Software · United Arab Emirates · Head-to-head
Bentley Systems vs First Bit ERP
Two United Arab Emirates software options, compared side by side for United Arab Emirates trades.
Which should you choose?
Bentley Systems is Tier S: our check found its prices published on its own website. First Bit ERP is Tier A. Compare the typical pricing shown for each below. The tier is not a quality ranking: weigh the pros, cons, pricing and United Arab Emirates-specific notes below against your trade and region.
Bentley Systems
Tier S · Published pricesInfrastructure design, project delivery and 4D construction software
Bentley Systems makes infrastructure engineering software, including ProjectWise for project delivery, SYNCHRO 4D for construction planning, OpenRoads Designer for roads and MicroStation for CAD, and has an office in City Tower 2 on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. It publishes USD prices for 12-month Virtuoso subscriptions on its website, with enterprise licensing by quote. Buyers of its ProjectWise bundle can choose the UAE as their data storage location.
Pros
- + Published online prices for single licences (USD, 12-month subscriptions)
- + ProjectWise bundle data can be stored in the UAE
- + 4D construction planning in SYNCHRO 4D
- + Dubai office on Sheikh Zayed Road
Cons
- − High per-seat prices for design tools (OpenRoads Designer from $7,226 a year)
- − Built for infrastructure and civil work more than building fit-out
- − Specialist engineering tools with a learning curve
- − Enterprise terms and bundles beyond the list are by quote
United Arab Emirates note
Most relevant for infrastructure and civil packages such as roads, utilities and large civil works rather than standard building fit-out. Buyers of the ProjectWise bundle can pick the UAE as their data storage location.
First Bit ERP
Tier A · ListedConstruction ERP for UAE contractors: costing, procurement, accounting and payroll
First Bit sells a construction ERP that it says is built exclusively for UAE contractors, covering project cost control, procurement, accounting, VAT and corporate tax, HR and payroll, equipment and warehouse. The company was founded in Moscow in 1997, says it has been in the UAE for 13 years with a separate UAE legal entity since 2022, and has an office in Falcon House, Dubai Investment Park. First Bit says more than 2,000 UAE companies have chosen it.
Pros
- + Built for contracting: project cost control, procurement and equipment
- + VAT returns and corporate tax calculation built in (per First Bit)
- + Arabic-English bilingual reporting (per First Bit)
- + Cloud or on-premises, with implementation, training and support in the subscription
Cons
- − No public prices: quote based on users, deployment and scope
- − Phased ERP implementation takes time
- − More system than a small trade firm needs
United Arab Emirates note
First Bit describes the software as FTA-approved for VAT and says it covers corporate tax and supports UAE e-invoicing integration as the rules roll out. The FTA publishes a list of accredited tax accounting software with a validity date for each product, so check First Bit's current entry there before relying on the approval. First Bit is not on the Ministry of Finance list of accredited e-invoicing service providers (checked 30 September 2026), so UAE e-invoices would go through a separate accredited provider.
More United Arab Emirates options
See all United Arab Emirates software vendors and the rest of the United Arab Emirates directory.