Refinery Manager Job Description UAE 2025 — Responsibilities, Qualifications and Salary
A Refinery Manager in UAE earns between AED 360,000 and AED 720,000 per year. The role leads all operations at a petroleum refinery, overseeing production, maintenance, HSE compliance, and budgeting. It requires a bachelor’s degree in chemical or petroleum engineering, 15 to 20 years of refinery experience, and a track record of managing large-scale process plant operations.
UAE and Saudi Arabia
Salary: AED 360,000–720,000
Updated 2025
Refinery Manager Responsibilities
The table below lists the primary responsibilities of a Refinery Manager in UAE and Saudi Arabia as of 2025. Each responsibility is stated as a discrete, measurable activity.
| Responsibility | Frequency | Output / Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Direct daily refinery operations to meet production targets | Daily | Production KPIs reviewed in morning operations meeting |
| Manage refinery OPEX and CAPEX budgets | Annual | Budget variance reported monthly to VP Operations |
| Ensure HSE compliance across all plant operations | Ongoing | Zero lost-time incidents (LTI) per quarter target |
| Lead major turnaround and maintenance shutdowns | Per shutdown | Shutdown completed within planned duration and cost |
| Develop and retain a refinery operations team of 200+ | Ongoing | Team retention rate above 90 percent per year |
| Liaise with regulatory authorities on plant licensing | As required | All operating licences current and renewed on schedule |
Refinery Manager Qualifications and Requirements
The following qualifications apply to a Refinery Manager role in UAE and Saudi Arabia. Requirements vary by sector and employer size.
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Petroleum Engineering |
| Experience | 15 to 20 years in refinery operations with minimum 5 years in a plant manager role |
| Process units | Experience with CDU, VDU, FCC, hydrocracker, or equivalent process units |
| HSE | NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent HSE leadership qualification |
| Budget | Demonstrated management of OPEX budgets of AED 50 million or above |
| Communication | Executive reporting, regulatory liaison, and team leadership |
All employment contracts in the UAE are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. A Refinery Manager employed in mainland UAE requires a Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) approved contract. ADGM, DIFC, and free zone employees are subject to their respective authority’s employment regulations.
How RFS Recruits a Refinery Manager
- You brief RFS with the role specification, seniority level, and team structure. The briefing call takes 30 minutes.
- RFS searches its active candidate database and activates direct outreach within 24 hours of instruction.
- RFS delivers a shortlist of 3 to 5 pre-screened Refinery Manager candidates within 48 to 72 hours.
- You conduct interviews. RFS coordinates scheduling and candidate communication throughout.
- RFS supports offer negotiation and manages the candidate’s notice period and onboarding.
- The 6-month replacement guarantee activates from the candidate’s start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Refinery Manager earn in UAE?
A Refinery Manager in UAE earns between AED 360,000 and AED 720,000 per year. ADNOC Refining and Takreer roles carry housing, transport, education, and medical allowances on top of base salary. Independent refinery operators pay AED 360,000 to AED 480,000.
What process units should a Refinery Manager know in UAE?
UAE refineries operate crude distillation units (CDU), vacuum distillation units (VDU), fluid catalytic crackers (FCC), and hydroprocessing units. ADNOC’s Ruwais Refinery complex operates one of the largest FCC units in the Middle East. Managers are expected to have operated at least two major process units at a senior level.
How does RFS recruit Refinery Managers?
RFS uses retained executive search for Refinery Manager mandates. A shortlist of 3 to 5 pre-screened candidates is delivered within 48 to 72 hours. The retained search fee is 15 to 18 percent of first-year total compensation.
What a Refinery Manager does in UAE
A Refinery Manager in UAE oversees the full operations of a petroleum refinery or gas processing facility, managing production throughput, maintenance, HSE, and regulatory compliance for ADNOC Refining, ENOC, or an independent refiner operating in the UAE. You hold P&L accountability for the facility and ensure it meets production capacity targets, turnaround schedules, and Abu Dhabi or Dubai regulatory standards.
Key responsibilities
- Own refinery operations P&L including feedstock costs, product yields, utility costs, and OPEX
- Lead all refinery departments including operations, maintenance, HSE, technical, and planning
- Manage the annual refinery turnaround planning and execution programme
- Ensure refinery compliance with UAE environmental regulations and ADNOC HSEMS
- Oversee crude and feedstock scheduling and optimisation with the supply chain team
- Drive reliability improvement through RCM and asset integrity programmes
- Manage relationships with ADNOC, UAE Ministry of Energy, and environmental authorities
- Lead Emiratisation hiring and development within the refinery workforce
- Manage refinery capex investment programme and major equipment replacements
- Present refinery performance KPIs and strategic initiatives to the executive team quarterly
Qualifications required
- Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or petroleum engineering
- 15 to 20 years of refinery experience with at least 5 years as Refinery Manager or Operations Director in UAE or GCC
- Deep knowledge of UAE environmental regulations and ADNOC Group technical standards
- Experience managing major refinery turnarounds in UAE or GCC operating environment
- Process safety management expertise including PHA, HAZOP, and PSM programme leadership
- Arabic language fluency strongly preferred for UAE government, authority, and community engagement
- Board-level P&L and capital investment reporting experience
- Demonstrated Emiratisation programme leadership in UAE refinery operations
Refinery Manager salary by employer type in UAE
| Employer type | Annual salary (AED) |
|---|---|
| ADNOC Refining or ADNOC Gas Processing | 900,000–1,600,000 |
| ENOC or Emirates National Oil Company facility | 800,000–1,450,000 |
| International refinery operator UAE JV | 750,000–1,350,000 |
| Independent petrochemical or specialty chemical facility (UAE) | 600,000–1,100,000 |
Contract terms for this role in UAE
Refinery Manager roles carry 3 to 6 month notice periods in UAE. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 governs end-of-service gratuity at 21 days basic salary per year for the first five years, rising to 30 days per year thereafter.
Hire a Refinery Manager in UAE or Saudi Arabia
RFS delivers a shortlist of pre-screened Refinery Manager candidates in 48 to 72 hours. Retained search fee: 15 to 18 percent of first-year total compensation. 6-month replacement guarantee on all placements.
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UAE salary guide 2025
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UAE Market Data — Refinery Manager 2025
Salary Range (AED/month)
AED 15,000 – 65,000 (varies by seniority)
Tax-free. Source: Michael Page UAE 2026, Indeed UAE 2025
Industry
Oilgas — UAE & GCC
Required Certifications (UAE Market)
SPE membership for engineers. NEBOSH / IOSH for HSE roles. ADNOC-approved certification for Abu Dhabi upstream.
UAE-Specific Regulatory Skills
ADNOC HSE standards, UAE Petroleum Law (Federal Law No. 4 of 1971), Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure regulations, OSHAD-SF safety framework (Abu Dhabi), Dubai Municipality HSE standards.
RFS HR Consultancy places refinery manager professionals across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the wider UAE and GCC. View our oil and gas recruitment agency Dubai UAE or check the oil and gas salary guide UAE 2025.
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