It is no coincidence that government departments in the various emirates are welcoming bids from consultants that are new to the area. Easily lured away from the recession-hit West by the notion that the streets of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are paved with gold, these companies are tending to submit very low offers to gain a foothold in the area. While there undoubtedly is work about and the outlook for the UAE is bright, the ever increasing competition among consultants and contractors means that margins are being squeezed. In the opinion of one major local consultant, the only way forward is to diversify: “Diversification into project management in the oil and gas sector is the only way to secure continuity of work and revenues and keep international calibre consultants on the ground. ”
各酋长国的政府部门都很欢迎对该地区还很陌生的许多公司进行投标，这绝非巧合。受经济衰退打击的西方很容易被阿布扎比和迪拜的街道铺满黄金的想法吸引来，他们倾向于以很低的报价在该地区获得立足点。阿联酋无疑有工程可做而且前途光明，但投标者和承包商之间不断的竞争意味着利润下降。在当地一位主要投标者看来，眼前唯一的出路是经营多样化：“确保继续有活干、有收入并使国际承包商立于不败之地的唯一办法是兼营油气行业的项目管理。”
