The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has reformed its professional engineering standards, introducing four distinct grades instead of the three previously stipulated in earlier legislation, applicable across all accredited engineering specialities.
The new grades, Intern Engineer, Practitioner Engineer, Professional Engineer and Expert Engineer, outlined in administrative decision 113/2025, are directly linked to examinations and competencies ensuring a clear, merit-based career path within the emirate.
Aspiring engineers must first pass the Intern Engineer stage before qualifying as a Practitioner Engineer. They have the option to advance to Professional, and ultimately, the Expert grade. Engineers must hold an approved qualification for each successive tier, pass the relevant exams, and accumulate a specified combination of practical experience and Professional Development Units (PDUs), accumulated from training and specialist courses, educational activities, or professional programmes accredited by the DMT to ensure that their performance aligns with industry best practices.
The examination framework has been meticulously crafted to verify engineers’ knowledge and capabilities. Evaluations will contain technical skills, relevant practices, and administrative proficiencies, alongside a thorough assessment of their comprehensive understanding of applicable regulations within the construction and building sector in Abu Dhabi.
An extendable conditional registration has been introduced to allow engineers who have not met certain prerequisites, such as degree equivalency or exam completion, to gain temporary registration while working towards their permanent registration.
His Excellency Eng Abdulla Mohamed Al Blooshi, Acting Director General of the Urban Planning and Permits Centre, DMT, said: “By introducing rigourous, merit-based grading and continuous development, we are not only elevating the quality and expertise of our engineers but also ensuring that our emirate's infrastructure is built upon the strongest possible foundations of skill and integrity.”
The introduction of these examinations further reinforces the commitment to maintain a dynamic engineering talent pool and draws inspiration from global best-in-class regulations.
