Khaberni - The Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi issued Administrative Decision No. 113 for the year 2025 to regulate the practice of engineering professions, stating that 4 grades will be applied to register engineers instead of the previous 3, across all accredited engineering disciplines.
The new grades are distributed into "Trainee Engineer", "Practicing Engineer", "Specialist Engineer", and "Expert Engineer", which are directly linked to exams and professional competencies, ensuring a clear path for the development and qualification of engineers for promotion.
The professional path starts with the "Trainee Engineer" grade, followed by "Practicing Engineer", then "Specialist Engineer", reaching up to "Expert Engineer". Promotion requires meeting specific conditions, which include accredited qualifications, passing tests, gaining practical experience, and obtaining professional development units from courses or approved activities, ensuring the application of the highest performance standards in the sector.
The testing framework has been developed to verify the technical and administrative knowledge and skills, in addition to assessing the understanding of the regulations and guidelines in the construction and building sector in Abu Dhabi. The decision also allows for the possibility of obtaining a temporary conditional registration for engineers who have not met the equivalence or testing requirements, until they are completed, with a transition period of 6 months to apply and pass the Practicing Engineer grade test for currently registered engineers.
Engineer Abdullah Mohammed Al Balushi, the General Manager of the Urban Planning and Licensing Center at the Department of Municipalities and Transport, said: "By adopting a precise evaluation system based on merit and continuous professional development, we aim to elevate the level of engineers and enhance their expertise, ensuring a strong and sustainable infrastructure by experts who possess the highest professional standards."
