How the work is actually done.

Abu Dhabi has one published standard for as-built geospatial data, and it decides the deliverable format before a survey team mobilises. Most project teams meet it after the capture, when changing it is expensive.

Abu Dhabi publishes its horizontal and vertical references in one government document. They are not the conventions a Dubai-trained team carries across, and the difference is usually discovered after the control is set.

Abu Dhabi issues more than one survey-related credential, through more than one body, for more than one kind of work. Treating them as interchangeable is the most common mistake made when appointing a surveyor in the emirate.