You don't need someone to take over your build. You need the truth about it.
A project manager takes the work off your hands. An owner's rep advises you. Vakeel checks everything your team does before you pay for it, and leaves every decision with you.
A project manager runs your build. We check it.
A project manager takes the work off your hands. That's real value, and for some owners it's the right choice.
But you hand over the remote control. They usually pick your contractor, designer and suppliers, often from their own network, and referral fees or margins on what they bring in are common in this industry, and not always disclosed.
Vakeel works the other way round. You keep control and choose your own team. We check everything they do, before you pay for it. What a middleman would keep stays with you.
Your team, your choices, your decisions. Our eyes on all of it, before you pay.
Project manager, owner's rep or Vakeel.
Ten things that matter to owners, and where each option is stronger for you. Where a project manager or an owner's rep is stronger, we say so. Hover or tap any answer for the reason.
Costs are for a mid-size villa of about AED 6M over 13 months. Fees for other kinds of help are typical ranges in Dubai (an owner's rep about 4% to 5% of the budget, a project manager about 8%), not quotes; actual fees vary by firm. Vakeel's figure is an estimate from our published prices.
Three good options. Pick the one that fits you.
Some owners want their build run for them. Others want to run it themselves, with the facts. Here's the honest short version.
You want someone else to run everything.
- They hire and coordinate the trades
- They make the day-to-day calls
- You're comfortable with them choosing your contractor and suppliers
You want advice at the big moments, at the lowest fixed fee.
- Advice at key meetings
- A weekly written report
- Usually 1 to 2 visits a week
You want to stay in charge and only pay for work that's been checked.
- You choose your own team
- 1, 2 or 3 visits a week, and a look before anything is covered
- Every bill checked before you pay it
Four lines we hold to, on every project.
We hold to them on every project, and you can hold us to them.
So nothing gets between you and an honest answer.
Each of these would give us a reason to see your build differently from you. So we don't do any of them.
Instructions go from you to your contractor, with us copied. With Hands-off we can pass on your written decisions, but they stay yours.
We tell you what to pay and what to hold. You pay your contractor directly.
Your designer owns the drawings. We check that what's built matches them.
Contractors quote and you choose. We show you what the numbers mean.
We don't stamp or sign drawings, and we submit nothing to Dubai Municipality or any authority.
No contractors, designers or suppliers. No panel, no preferred list.
No commission, referral fee or rebate from anyone, on anything.
Vakeel never builds or supplies. The only thing we sell is being on your side.
Before you ask.
What does Vakeel actually do for me?
We check your builder's work before you pay for it. We visit your site 1, 2 or 3 times a week, inspect anything before it's covered, check every bill against the work actually done, and show it all on a live dashboard. On every bill you get a clear position: pay this, hold that, and why.
Do you manage my contractor?
No. You instruct your contractor and we're copied. That keeps you in charge and keeps our view independent.
Do you handle payments?
Never. Your money never passes through Vakeel. We tell you what to pay or hold, and why; you pay the contractor yourself.
Can you recommend a contractor?
No. We don't recommend contractors, designers or suppliers, and we take no fee from anyone but you. You choose; we check what they build.
What does it cost?
A fixed monthly fee set from your built-up area, your budget and how often we visit. For a premium villa of 3,500 to 7,500 sq ft it's AED 18,000, 26,000 or 34,000 a month for 1, 2 or 3 visits a week. It's billed every 3 months in advance and doesn't rise with your contract value. These are published prices, excluding VAT; your fee is set in your signed agreement.
Is it worth it on a smaller budget?
On smaller budgets the fee is a bigger share of the build, and an owner's rep may be cheaper. The fee calculator estimates your fee and its share of your budget, so you can decide before you speak to us. One visit a week, or Compare quotes and a one-off report, may be all you need.
What if my contractor runs late?
Extra months are billed at our lowest rate, the one-visit rate for your project, and we keep visiting as agreed.
Can I stop?
Yes, at any time. The next 3-month block isn't charged. Blocks already paid aren't refunded.
Do you deal with Dubai Municipality or other approvals?
No. We don't stamp or sign drawings and we don't submit anything to any authority. Your designer and contractor do that. We track where your approvals stand so you can see it.
I'm abroad, or just busy. Does this work for me?
Yes. Add Hands-off and we go to the site meetings for you. Once a week you get one brief, and you answer with a yes or a no. We pass your decision to your contractor in writing, inside limits you set. AED 6,000 a month on top of your site visits.
Is Compare quotes really free?
Yes. Drop in your quotes and we send you a first read, usually within one working day: what's missing, what looks high or low, and what each quote comes to with the gaps filled. It never recommends a contractor. The full line-by-line report is AED 12,000, only if you want it.
Who owns the record of my build?
You do. Every check, photo and test is kept on your dashboard, and handed over with the villa: evidence for any defects claim, and for a buyer if you sell.