Worker guide · 6 min read · updated Nov 2026

Shutdown and turnaround jobs in the Gulf: what they are and how to get one

Refineries, gas plants, petrochemical complexes and power stations cannot be repaired while they run. Every few years each unit is stopped for a planned shutdown (also called a turnaround or TAR) when thousands of extra workers come in to inspect, repair and replace equipment as fast as possible. Many of the biggest hiring drives on this site – "550 mechanical technicians for Qatar shutdown", "700 mechanical fitters, Abu Dhabi" – are shutdown jobs.

Who gets hired

• Mechanical fitters and mechanical technicians (pumps, compressors, heat exchangers)
• Pipe fitters, 6G welders and fabricators
• Riggers, rigging supervisors and crane operators
• Scaffolders, scaffolding supervisors and inspectors
• Boilermakers, bolting/torquing technicians and valve technicians
• Electrical and instrument technicians
• Fire watch, hole watch and safety officers
• Foremen, chargehands and supervisors for each trade

How the contracts work

Shutdown contracts are short: typically 30 to 90 days, sometimes with a mobilisation period before and demobilisation after. Workers are usually employed by a manpower supply company or maintenance contractor, not the plant owner. Pay is often a daily or hourly rate plus food, accommodation and transport – for example "AED 41–45 per day plus overtime". Days are long (10–12 hours is normal) and work often runs 7 days a week, so overtime can matter more than the base rate.

Certificates that help

• H2S awareness – essential for sour gas and refinery units.
• Confined space entry and gas testing.
• Working at height and scaffold inspection cards.
• Rigger level cards and crane operator certificates recognised in the country of work.
• Previous gate passes or site inductions with major operators.

Keep certificates valid and in one folder – shutdown recruiters move fast and pick candidates who can mobilise immediately.

How to find shutdown jobs

1. Watch walk-in interview ads from manpower agencies – they usually mention "shutdown" or "turnaround" and the client plant.
2. Register with several maintenance contractors and manpower suppliers – many keep a database and call past workers for each shutdown season.
3. Do one shutdown well. Good supervisors are re-hired for the next one, and many workers build a steady year from back-to-back shutdowns.

Things to watch out for

• Visit visas: genuine shutdown employers use proper work or project visas. Do not work on a visit visa.
• Get the daily rate, overtime rate, food and accommodation terms in writing before you travel – see our offer checklist.
• Never pay for a "shutdown visa". See how to spot fake offers.