Know what you are paying for, line by line
BOQ Review Dubai
A BOQ review checks whether the quantities you are being charged for match the work that will actually be done. It is a couple of hours of an engineer’s time, and it routinely pays for itself several times over on a single line item.
- Every line checked against measured quantities
- Missing scope and vague descriptions flagged before you sign
- Rates compared against current UAE market ranges
- Written review back to you within 48 hours
What a BOQ is meant to do
A Bill of Quantities Is a Promise About Numbers
A proper BOQ lists every item of work with a quantity, a unit, a rate and a total. It is the document that decides what you pay and what you receive. When it is vague, the vagueness always resolves in one direction.
Most disputes we see on Dubai renovations do not start with bad workmanship. They start with a BOQ that nobody read carefully. Six months later there is an argument about whether skirting was included, and the answer depends on a line that just said “finishing works”.
The problem is that reading a BOQ properly requires knowing what the quantities should be. Twelve square metres of waterproofing in a bathroom sounds reasonable until you measure the room and the upstands and get nineteen.
What we look for
The Six Things That Cost Owners Money
These come up on almost every BOQ we review. None of them require bad faith on the contractor’s part — but all of them cost you.
Quantities That Do Not Measure Up
We measure the property and check the stated quantities against reality. Over-measurement is common, under-measurement is worse — it usually means a variation later.
Lump Sums Hiding Detail
“Bathroom works: AED 45,000” is not a BOQ line. Anything not broken into quantity, unit and rate is a place where scope can quietly shrink.
Missing Exclusions
If the exclusions list is short or absent, assume nothing is excluded. That assumption is never correct, and you find out which items were missing at the worst moment.
Unspecified Materials
A line that says “floor tile” with no brand, grade, size or finish allows anything to arrive. Specification belongs in the BOQ, not in a conversation.
Rates Out of Step
We compare rates against current UAE market ranges. Both directions matter — a rate well below market usually means a variation is being planned.
Payment Terms That Expose You
Fifty percent up front with no milestone definitions is common and rarely in your interest. We flag terms that leave you paying ahead of the work.
What you receive
The Review Itself
A written document you can put in front of your contractor, not a verbal opinion.
- Line-by-line commentary on the full BOQ
- Measured quantities where they differ from stated
- Missing scope listed explicitly
- Rate comparison against market ranges
- Specification gaps that need closing
- A prioritised list of questions to ask
What this is and is not. A BOQ review is a technical opinion on quantities, scope and specification. It is not a legal opinion on your contract, and it is not an accusation against your contractor — most discrepancies we find are honest measurement differences. What the review gives you is the information to ask better questions before you sign, rather than after.
Common questions
BOQ Review — Your Questions
Do I need this if I trust my contractor?
Trust and verification are different things. A good contractor has nothing to lose from an independent check, and a documented BOQ protects them from scope arguments too.
How long does a review take?
Usually 48 hours from receiving the BOQ and drawings. If we need to measure the property, add a site visit.
Can you review a quote that is not a proper BOQ?
Yes, and that is often the most useful review we do — because the first finding is that you have not been given a BOQ at all. See our contractor quote review.
Will you negotiate with my contractor?
Not on a standalone review. On our owner’s representative package we handle that dialogue directly as your technical representative.
What if the review finds nothing wrong?
That happens, and it is a good outcome. You proceed with documented confidence rather than hope, and you have a measured baseline for checking variations later.
Is a BOQ legally required in Dubai?
No. Contract requirements are governed under the framework administered by the Dubai Land Department, but a detailed BOQ is commercial good practice rather than a legal obligation. A contractor unwilling to provide one is telling you something.
Send Us the BOQ Before You Sign It
Two hours of review is cheaper than one disputed variation. Email the document and drawings and we will come back within 48 hours.
DED Certified · RERA Approved · InterNACHI Accredited · 98,000+ Inspections · Reports in 6 Hours