How To Become A Document Controller in Dubai?

The construction & infrastructure development sector in Dubai is experiencing a significant rise in the demand for Document Controllers. Document Controllers play a crucial role in ensuring an organized flow of information and managing critical project documentation.

Document Controllers are responsible for managing, organizing, and archiving documents in compliance with the internal policies and industry standards. Their expertise is essential for the smooth operation of large-scale construction ventures. If you aspire to start your career as a Document Controller in Dubai, you have to follow these steps:

Meet the educational requirements
Understand the role of the Document Controller
Develop key skills in Document Control
Gain relevant work experience
Apply for Document Controller jobs
Engage in a continuous learning process

6 Steps to Become a Document Controller in Dubai

Let’s explore the 7 steps to becoming a Document Controller in Dubai.

1. Meet the educational requirements

The initial step towards becoming a Document Controller in Dubai is to complete your Bachelor’s Degree. A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree is important to start your career as a Document Controller. A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/ Library Science/ Information Management will give you a competitive edge in the area of Document Control.

2. Understand the role of the Document Controller:

If you have decided to become a Document Controller after finishing your graduation, it is essential to have clarity on the roles and responsibilities of a Document Controller. Some of the key responsibilities of a Document Controller include,

Ensuring all documents meet quality and formatting standards
Reducing the risks associated with missing or outdated documents
Ensure secure handling of confidential/sensitive/ classified documents.
Preparing documents for external & internal audits and keeping audit trails.

Becoming a Document Controller involves having an in-depth knowledge of Document Lifecycle and Document Control Principles. Joining the Document Controller Course enables you to master the best documentation practices.

3. Develop key skills in Document Control

A Document Controller manages and maintains documents in both physical and digital formats. Develop these skillsets to start your career as a Document Controller in Dubai’s dynamic job landscape.

Technical Skills:

Let’s look into the technical skills required to become a Document Controller.

Microsoft Suite: Strong skills in the Microsoft Suite, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft 365, and Outlook, are essential for Document Controllers. Mastering the MS Suite enables you to create, organize, and present documents efficiently.
Data Management: Data management skills are crucial for document controllers to categorize and archive data in physical and digital formats. Enroll in courses like Advanced Excel to enhance your skills in organizing complex data and handling numerical figures.
File Type Management: A Document Controller ensures consistency and accuracy in Document Control Procedures. It is essential to develop skills to work with a variety of file types for a smooth documentation process. Currently, organizations are migrating to the cloud platform to store their files. To learn the fundamentals of cloud computing, you can enroll in the Azure Fundamentals Course.
Electronic Document Management System (EDMS): Having proficiency in the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS), like SharePoint, DocuWare, Acone, and Procore, has become a mandatory requirement for the Document Controller job role. Master EDMS to get a competitive edge in the job market
Record Keeping: The Document Controller has to maintain up-to-date records of all document versions, revisions, and approvals. You have to develop record-keeping skills to succeed in this job role.

Soft Skills:

Check out the essential soft skills required to excel in the Document Controller job role:

Analytical Skills: Analytical skills are crucial in the documentation process to locate errors, omissions, and inconsistencies in the documents. Thus, a document controller must have strong analytical skills to optimize the document control process.
Communication Skills: A document controller should have verbal and written communication skills. Communication skills enable effective interaction with clients, internal teams, and key stakeholders. Enroll in the Business English Course to enhance your communication skills.
Collaboration skills: A document controller often works as part of a larger team. The ability to collaborate effectively with others and build strong working relationships with the team is important.
Adaptability: Document controllers have to adapt according to changing project requirements and company policies. They must be flexible to work in varying work schedules and different shifts.

4. Gain relevant work experience:

To gain relevant work experience, apply for entry-level jobs as an admin assistant, project assistant, data entry clerk, or office assistant. Getting these jobs helps you acquire experience in record-keeping and the documentation process. You can also join an internship in construction companies in Dubai that follow a document control process to gain experience.

5. Apply for Document Controller jobs

Before you apply for Document Controller jobs, follow these steps:

Create a LinkedIn Account and start building your professional network.
Create a professional resume highlighting your skills and work experience.
Apply for the job roles such as Document Specialist, Records Coordinator, and Document Controller.
Develop your interpersonal skills and prepare for the job interviews. You can enrol in the Personality Development Course to make a lasting impression during interviews.

6. Engage in a continuous learning process

Once you establish yourself as a Document Controller, seek career advancement opportunities. Follow these tips to engage in a continuous learning process,

AI skills have become highly relevant in today’s job market. You can enroll in the AI Course to master the latest AI tools.
Learn new DMS tools and document control technologies to enhance your earning potential.
Pursue any of the certification courses mentioned below to upgrade your skills.
- Certified Document Controller (CDC) Course
- Records Management Certification Course
- ISO 9001 Documentation Course
- Data Analytics Training Course

Average Salary of Entry-Level Document Controllers in the UAE

Let’s look into the average salary of entry-level document controllers in the UAE’s top cities, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Al Ain.

City	Average Monthly Salary
Dubai	AED 8964 Per Month
Abu Dhabi	AED 6397 Per Month
Sharjah	AED 5492 Per Month
Al Ain	AED 5231 Per Month

Final Words:

The growing demand for a Document Controller in Dubai is directly linked to the rapid expansion of projects in the oil & gas and infrastructure development sectors. As organizations in Dubai continue to digitize and streamline their operations, the role of Document Controllers is going to expand.

Upskilling has become a necessity for all job roles in Dubai’s competitive job market. Keep upskilling and excel in job roles like Senior Document Controller, Document Control Lead, QA/QC Document Specialist, etc.