Cost Manager
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. In the GCC market, this role is actively hired across Saudi with 6 recent postings.
A Cost Manager in the GCC region requires procurement, Excel, communication, english, presentation. Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. This role is in demand across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Salary across the GCC
Monthly gross median in local currency, by country × seniority.
| Country | Junior | Mid-Level | Senior | Lead / Principal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 11,000 AED | 18,500 AED | 29,000 AED | 40,000 AED |
| Saudi Arabia | 10,500 SAR | 18,000 SAR | 27,500 SAR | 38,500 SAR |
| Qatar | 11,500 QAR | 19,500 QAR | 30,500 QAR | 42,000 QAR |
| Kuwait | 900 KWD | 1,550 KWD | 2,350 KWD | 3,300 KWD |
| Oman | 1,000 OMR | 1,700 OMR | 2,650 OMR | 3,650 OMR |
| Bahrain | 950 BHD | 1,600 BHD | 2,500 BHD | 3,450 BHD |
How Cost Manager pay varies in the UAE
UAE · mid-level · monthly gross in AED
Modelled from 500 market signals (Michael Page, Cooper Fitch & Hays surveys + Tabbio posting data) · updated June 15, 2026 · How we estimate
By company size
Median compensation varies with headcount.
Top-paying industries
Median for this role, ranked by sector.
Estimates modelled from GCC pay surveys and live posting volume — a directional guide, not a live salary feed.
Required skills
Top hiring companies
- Turner & Townsend
- Currie & Brown
- Hill International (Middle East) Limited
- Herfy Food Services Co. Ltd.
Active markets
- saudi
- 01
contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively Ensure that cost checking and valuation work is managed effectively Ensure the production of monthly post
- 02
contract cost reports and presenting them to the client value engineering and life cycle costing Ensure that final accounts are negotiated Enter the cost and man
- 03
hour estimates into the performance monitoring system for projects Analyze trends and problems in relation to cost and schedule data Prepare cost
- 04
Responsible for pre and post
- 05
Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- 06
Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
- 07
Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
- 08
Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
What is the average Cost Manager salary in the UAE?
The median monthly gross salary for a mid-level Cost Manager in the UAE is estimated from sample Gulf pay data. The figures scale with seniority — juniors earn roughly 55-60% of the mid level, seniors about 1.5×, and leads/principals close to 2×.
Which GCC country pays Cost Manager salaries the most?
Qatar and the UAE typically lead for Cost Manager salaries, with Saudi Arabia close behind. Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman pay in local currency but the gross AED-equivalent is usually somewhat lower.
Are these figures gross or net?
All numbers are monthly gross base pay — before housing or transport allowances, bonuses, or statutory deductions. GCC payroll typically has no income tax for residents, so gross and net are close for most expats.
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