CIOB to appoint Middle Eastern regional manager by next month

The Chartered Institute of Building expects to have a regional manager in place by the start of next month after opening its first ever office in the Middle East in Dubai.

Chris Blythe, its chief executive, said the body was recruiting for the post now and added: “It's probably going to be an ex-pat. It's an exciting position because it's looking after our members' interests across the Gulf.”

The office has been opened at the British University of Dubai and Blythe said it had been done in response to the number of construction professionals jetting out to the Gulf for work.

He said: “There must be upwards of 4,000 professionals who've gone out there in the past 15 months. In terms of British construction professionals, the place is a growth area.”

As well as Dubai, the regional manager will also have responsibility for those CIOB members working in Oman, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

Blythe added that he is hoping the office will also act as a link with the Indian subcontinent.