Planning Engineer (Construction Contractor)

Pink Camel Recruitment; Dubai; On-site; AED 112,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Pink Camel Recruitment is seeking a Planning Engineer for a leading construction company in Dubai, UAE. The role focuses on preparing, monitoring and updating construction programmes, coordinating with project teams to align schedules with milestones.

This site-based position requires a strong background in Primavera P6/MS Project, plus a track record with main contractor projects in the UAE/GCC. You will produce reports, manage baselines, and support EOT and claims with the commercial team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent.
• 3-6 years of planning experience within the construction industry.
• Experience on main contractor projects in the UAE/GCC is preferred.
• Solid understanding of construction sequences, methodologies and planning principles.
• Good analytical and reporting skills, with effective communication and coordination ability.
• Ability to work under supervision and meet deadlines.
• Valid UAE driving licence is required.
• PMP, AACE, CIOB or equivalent certification, or formal Primavera/planning training, is advantageous.
• Understanding of delay analysis, basic commercial awareness and exposure to BIM-based planning (Navisworks, Synchro) are a plus.
• Experience on building, infrastructure, mixed-use, large-scale or fast-track projects is desirable.
• Familiarity with ERP and document management systems such as Aconex is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Assisting in the preparation of baseline programmes using Primavera P6 / MS Project, including activity lists, WBS, sequencing and durations
• Ensuring programmes comply with project milestones and contractual timelines
• Incorporating HSE requirements into project schedules and ensuring safe sequencing of activities with site teams
• Supporting tender programmes, reviewing scope and sequencing with the estimation team, and identifying planning risks at tender stage
• Updating project programmes weekly/monthly, tracking site progress against the baseline and highlighting delays and critical activities
• Supporting corrective action planning to bring projects back on track
• Preparing progress reports, S-curves, histograms, status updates and management presentations
• Maintaining delay records and supporting Extension of Time (EOT) and claims documentation with the commercial team
• Liaising with construction, procurement and engineering teams, integrating subcontractor programmes and attending progress meetings
• Supporting manpower and equipment planning, tracking resource utilisation and flagging shortages or inefficiencies
• Maintaining planning data, registers, logs, templates and digital dashboards
• Contributing to continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and supporting standardised planning procedures

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication & coordination

Planning & scheduling

Site-based delivery

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

MS 365 (Excel/Word/PowerPoint)

Job description

We are looking for a Planning Engineer for a construction company based in the UAE.

Location – Dubai, UAE

Salary – 10,000 - 15,000 AED/month

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent
• 3-6 years of planning experience within the construction industry
• Experience on main contractor projects in the UAE/GCC is preferred
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 and/or MS Project, plus Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Solid understanding of construction sequences, methodologies and planning principles
• Good analytical and reporting skills, with effective communication and coordination ability
• Ability to work under supervision and meet deadlines
• Valid UAE driving licence is required
• PMP, AACE, CIOB or equivalent certification, or formal Primavera/planning training, is advantageous
• Understanding of delay analysis, basic commercial awareness and exposure to BIM-based planning (Navisworks, Synchro) are a plus
• Experience on building, infrastructure, mixed-use, large-scale or fast-track projects is desirable
• Familiarity with ERP and document management systems such as Aconex is beneficial

Key Responsibilities:

• Assisting in the preparation of baseline programmes using Primavera P6 / MS Project, including activity lists, WBS, sequencing and durations
• Ensuring programmes comply with project milestones and contractual timelines
• Incorporating HSE requirements into project schedules and ensuring safe sequencing of activities with site teams
• Supporting tender programmes, reviewing scope and sequencing with the estimation team, and identifying planning risks at tender stage
• Updating project programmes weekly/monthly, tracking site progress against the baseline and highlighting delays and critical activities
• Supporting corrective action planning to bring projects back on track
• Preparing progress reports, S-curves, histograms, status updates and management presentations
• Maintaining delay records and supporting Extension of Time (EOT) and claims documentation with the commercial team
• Liaising with construction, procurement and engineering teams, integrating subcontractor programmes and attending progress meetings
• Supporting manpower and equipment planning, tracking resource utilisation and flagging shortages or inefficiencies
• Maintaining planning data, registers, logs, templates and digital dashboards
• Contributing to continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and supporting standardised planning procedures

About the role:

We are looking for a Planning Engineer to support the preparation, monitoring and updating of construction programmes on projects for a leading main contractor in Dubai. Reporting to the Head of Planning, you will help ensure projects stay aligned with timelines, contract requirements and company objectives. The role involves tracking site progress, identifying delays, preparing reports and maintaining planning documentation, while working closely with construction, commercial, procurement and HSE teams as well as clients, consultants and subcontractors. This is a site-based role, so a valid UAE driving licence is essential. It's a great opportunity for a planning professional with main contractor experience to grow their career on a range of exciting projects.