United Arab Emirates Construction Industry Research Articles

Factors causing delays in the UAE construction industry amid the Covid-19 pandemic

PurposeThis paper aims to measure the severity, frequency and importance of the factors causing delays in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) construction industry following the Covid-19 pandemic onset. The study also measures the likelihood of the effects caused by these delays.Design/methodology/approachA mixed approach of both qualitative and quantitative. Literature review was conducted to extract 40 factors of delays and 10 effects of delays. A survey was then administered to construction professionals in the UAE to collect the perceptions on the severity and frequency of factors of the causes of delays using a Likert Scale of 1–5 where 1 represented very low and 5 represented very high. Similarly, the respondents were also asked to rate the likelihood of the occurrence of the effects of the delays based on a Likert scale of 1–5 as well. Furthermore, Spearman’s rank correlation was also conducted to compute the level of agreement between the different parties; owner, consultants and contractors.FindingsThe results revealed that the top five factors of delays include: award the project for the lowest bidder, delay in progress payment, change orders by the owner, poor subcontractor performance and inadequate planning and scheduling by the contractor. The findings of this study emphasize the financial challenges and economic crisis brought upon the construction industry due to the pandemic. Furthermore, the pandemic also shifted the perceptions of construction professionals, who are now more aware of the delays caused by awarding the project to the lowest bidder who would not have the required qualifications to conduct efficient planning and scheduling that are relevant in the case of extraordinary events such as Covid-19. Moreover, a high level of agreement between the consultants and contractors was observed, with a Spearman’s rank correlation of 0.804. Additionally, the most likely effects of delays concluded from this study were time overrun/extension and poor quality of work.Originality/valueLiterature review is very rich in the field of construction projects delays. However, there is very limited research on the impact of Covid-19 in the context of construction projects delays, and insights from construction professionals regarding this matter are particularly lacking in literature. Therefore, this paper bridges the gap in literature by providing perceptions of construction professionals on the impact of Covid-19 on the factors causing delays in the UAE construction industry. The findings of this research are expected to be an invaluable resource for future to help the construction industry heal faster when encountering similar epidemics or extraordinary events.

Relationship between organisational culture and collective coping strategies in project teams: an exploratory quantitative study in the UAE construction industry

PurposeThis study explores the role of organisational culture in promoting collective coping strategies in construction project teams in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Three collective coping strategies were examined, including problem-focused, relationship-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies.Design/methodology/approachO'Reilly et al.’s (1991) organisational culture profile (OCP) assessed organisational culture values. Data were collected through an online questionnaire from practitioners in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) construction organisations.FindingsThe findings show a high correlation between competitiveness culture values and problem-focused team coping strategy. Relationship-focused team coping strategy was found to have a high correlation with emphasis on rewards and performance orientation values. Conversely, an emotion-focused team coping strategy correlates highly with competitiveness, supportiveness and emphasis on rewards cultural values.Research limitations/implicationsThe cross-sectional design of the survey and the UAE context may present limits to the generalisability of findings.Practical implicationsLimited attempts have been made to study collective coping in construction project teams. The study paves the path for exploring emergent socio-psychological concepts in construction organisations, including the impact of organisational culture on team collective coping with adverse events.Originality/valueUnderstanding the pivotal impact of culture on successful team coping provides managers with valuable insights into managing situational adversity in construction project teams.

Practical solutions for improving the suboptimal performance of construction projects using Dubai construction projects as an example

PurposePoor performance remains a challenge for the construction industry worldwide. One of the key performance indicators of the construction industry is the timely delivery of projects. Despite the recent methodological and technological advances in the field, project-overrun remains a significant challenge for the industry. This paper seeks to propose practical solutions that allow overcoming the challenges and promote the opportunities for improving the performance of the construction projects in Dubai.Design/methodology/approachThis study focussed on the construction projects in Dubai; therefore, this research adopted a sequential mixed approach in two stages. The first stage involved face-to-face interviews with seven carefully selected construction professionals. Their answers were analysed to provide with the literature study “the informed-basis for the development of the online questionnaire”. The second stage involved an online survey administrated to 425 carefully selected construction organisations working in Dubai. Accordingly, a meticulous analysis for the prime causes of project overruns has also been undertaken. This analysis assisted proposing the most suitable solutions-based technologies that enabled alleviating overruns in the construction projects.FindingsThe findings revealed that, there was a consensus agreement on the formidable opportunities for improving the performance of the construction industry in general and in particular in Dubai. These opportunities are intrinsically linked with the adoption of the latest technologies such as building information modelling, augmented reality, virtual reality and the artificial intelligence (AI). Whereas, adopting AI has already assisted two public authorities to release No Objection Certificates and work permits effectively within one day instead of 14 working days, which has saved 90% of the time and cost. Likewise, adoption of the AI has assisted delivering the construction project with a 9% of time saving and a 6% of cost saving due to embracing an automated system that enabled them to instantly detect and report the delays, once occurred.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of this study is that the study was limited to the construction industry in the Emirate of Dubai. Therefore, future research could target the whole United Arab Emirates construction industry to propose the practical solution on the country level.Practical implicationsThe literature study is replete with solutions, which tend to be theoretical more than practical. Therefore, the proposed practical recommendations will significantly assist the construction industry to improve its suboptimal performance to rescind the sovereignty of the irrelevant involvements. The research recommended establishing independent entity to lead the change in the construction industry; this entity will have the power of enacting rules and legislations. Furthermore, this independent entity will have the power and authority of dictations and impose sanctions on the non-committed organisations that are reluctant to adopt the recommended technologies and approaches.Originality/valueBased on the findings of the study, this paper draws a road map for the construction industry by determining practical solutions for improvements starting with an establishment of an independent authority that selects and tests the most appropriate technologies and approaches to contribute to performance improvements.

Impact of COVID-19 on project performance in the UAE construction industry

PurposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the global economy and, thus, the global construction industry. This paper aims to study the impact of COVID-19 on construction project performance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a qualitative and exploratory approach to investigate the impact of COVID-19 and its policies on project performance in the UAE construction industry in critical areas of the project management body of knowledge (e.g. schedule, cost, resources and contracts). Semi-structured interview questions were asked from ten construction professional to obtain valuable insights into the pandemic’s effects on the UAE construction industry and the effectiveness of policies implemented to rectify the damage and identify the industry’s new normal.FindingsThe findings indicate that the construction industry faced several challenges such as schedule delays, disrupted cashflows, delayed permits, approvals and inspections, travel restrictions, serious health and safety concerns, material and equipment shortages, among others which hindered the timely delivery of construction projects. It also indicates that efforts made by the government institutions and the construction industry of the UAE such as economic support programs, digitization of processes, fee and fine waivers, health facilities, among other statutory relaxations proved effective in supporting the construction industry against the adverse effects of the pandemic.Research limitations/implicationsThe research findings are limited to the literature review and ten semi-structured interviews seeking an expert’s opinion from industry professionals working in the UAE construction industry. The research team did not get access to project documents, contracts and project progress reports which may be required to validate the interview findings, and to perform an in-depth analysis quantifying the impact of COVID 19 on construction projects performance, which is a limitation of this research.Practical implicationsThe implication is that, owing to the imposed lockdowns and strict precautionary measures to curb the rapid spread of the pandemic, smooth execution of the construction project across the country was affected. The government institutions and stakeholders of the construction projects introduced and implemented various techniques and solutions which effectively handled the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the construction industry of the UAE.Originality/valueThis study has identified the challenges faced by the construction industry of the UAE in the context of the management of project schedule, project cost, construction contracts, health and safety of construction employees and other related aspects of the construction projects. This study also identified the techniques and solutions adopted by various public and private institutions of the country and their implications on construction projects. Therefore, this study provides guidelines for policymakers and future research studies alike.

Complementary implementation of best practice in environmental management with health and safety; context of the United Arab Emirates construction industry

This research study investigates the strategic implementation of health and safety (H&S) and its effect on environmental management in the UAE construction industry. For this purpose, two objectives are formulated to explore: (i) the extent to which there is a commitment to environmental management, and (ii) the extent to which environmental and H&S activities are appropriately integrated. Quantitative data were collected by a questionnaire survey from 27 respondents including contractors, consultants, clients and safety officers from the UAE construction industry. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicate a strong relationship between the variables. Some respondents were of the opinion that the best international H&S practice is applied in the UAE and information availability is appropriate. Many managers are committed to environmental management and the H&S of their employees, but there are some barriers and critical success factors to be addressed to assure continued improvement. There is potential for improving environmental and health and safety performance.

Employment of Unskilled Craft Workers in the UAE Construction Projects: Explicating the Reasons

The United Arab Emirates construction industry is beset with negative project performance outputs, such as defects, low productivity, delay in completion, and higher costs. Most critical among the recorded reasons for having these undesirable outputs is the engagement of unskilled craft workers. However, the demand for construction projects in the UAE is continually increasing, especially after Dubai won hosting of Expo 2020, as this consequently translates to increased demand for skilled construction craft workers, if optimal project delivery performance must be achieved. Therefore, subject matters related to skillfulness and productivity of construction craft workers become research windows for academic scholars and industry investigators in the UAE built environment. The main purpose of this study is to explicate the reasons behind employment of unskilled craft workers in the construction projects from the management level perspective. To meet this purpose, the authors conducted in-depth interview with construction project managers. The results show number of reasons why unskilled craft workers are been hired and the effect of specialized certificates on hiring the craft workers

Joint venture versus non-joint venture projects in the UAE construction industry: a comparison of the usage of project management practices and performance

The purpose of this paper is to report on a study comparing joint venture and non-joint venture projects in terms of their performance and usage of project management practices. Data were obtained from project managers at 99 contracting organisations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) construction industry. The results show an agreement between the two types of project in the usage level of 35 out of 40 different practices associated with the ten knowledge areas articulated in the Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide (PMI, 2017). However, joint venture construction projects had higher usages of four cost-and procurement-related practices compared to non-joint venture construction projects. The results also show that although they are associated with increased risks due to the involvement of partners, generally the overall performance of joint venture construction projects is comparable with that of non-joint venture construction projects. The findings of this study could be of value to organisations that are planning to form joint venture projects in the UAE and other countries with similar environments.

Profiling Causative Factors Leading to Construction Project Delays in the United Arab Emirates

The timely delivery of projects is one of the most important needs of clients in the construction industry and yet it still remains a highly challenging undertaking the world over. From the reviewed literature, it has been suggested that such delays usually come with and lead to far reaching consequences in the form of adversarial relationships, mistrust, litigation, arbitration, cash-flow problems, and a general feeling of trepidation towards stakeholders within the construction industry. A voluminous amount of research has been conducted on this problem in the recent past however, the persistence of the problem demands that a relentless quest for solutions is upheld. It can be argued that the problem is likely to be more pronounced in areas where development pressure is the highest. One such area is the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where the construction industry is said to have reached an unparalleled position in the last decade. Moreover, the problems of construction delays may differ from one region to another due to numerous differentiating factors. This study sought to identify the most significant causes of delays in the UAE construction industry. A survey was conducted, targeting three key types of stakeholders, namely clients, contractors and consultants. From the analysis, the study unveiled a number of important causes of construction delays in the UAE, ranging from unrealistic contract durations to poor labour productivity, with consultants and clients seemingly shouldering the bulk of the ‘blame game’.

A benchmarking approach to the progress of green materials and systems’ use in the UAE construction industry

Purpose Over the past decade, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) introduced several green regulatory guidelines, federal decrees, and a considerable number of environmentally friendly initiatives. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the top green materials and systems used currently in the UAE construction industry as per the new laws dictate as well as see if professionals are switching over to incorporate more green materials, systems, and/or designs. Design/methodology/approach The work involved reviewing internationally popular green materials and systems for construction, developing a questionnaire based on the literature review, surveying professionals in the seven UAE emirates, and ranking the findings based on the relative importance index. Findings Findings found the top used green materials and system in the UAE’s construction industry. As well as identified that there is a communication gap between the design and implementation phases that is possibly hindering the use of more green materials and systems. Originality/value This study sets a baseline to measure the UAE’s progress over the coming years in terms of integrating more green construction materials, systems, methodologies, and trends.

Assessment on the Usage of Insulated Concrete Forms in United Arab Emirates Construction Industry

Assessment on the Usage of Insulated Concrete Forms in United Arab Emirates Construction Industry

Exploring the Adoption of BIM in the UAE Construction Industry for AEC Firms

Rate of development of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) economy has increased remarkably during the last 25 years with a marked boom in the construction industry. However, the UAE construction industry is encountering several problems as delays and cost overruns. Adoption of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) solution is expected to enhance performance and profitability for the construction industry. This paper looks at the BIM adoption in UAE due to its mandate by the Dubai Municipality in 2015 which was followed by a BIM mandate in UK in 2016. A questionnaire survey was used to assess awareness of, and use and adoption of BIM in the UAE. The survey was distributed to academics and construction professionals working on BIM projects in UAE. The research result reveals three critical barriers in BIM implementation: Lack of BIM Standards, Lack of BIM Awareness and Resistance to change. A synthesis is presented of the state of past and current studies on BIM implementation and future research directions are recommended.

Impact of National Culture on the Management Practices of Construction Projects in the United Arab Emirates

AbstractCulture plays an important role in Arab Middle East society. Its unique historical, social, and religious traditions require special attention to cultural traits in the exercise of authority, control, and interaction. However, little research has investigated the effects of national culture on the management practices of construction companies. This research investigates this relationship through a questionnaire survey and interviews of a sample of construction companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It solicits views about the type of and experiences concerning the effect of the key national and cultural dimensions on adopted management practices. The research demonstrates that construction companies within the UAE construction industry have developed and adopted a unique management style that is a mixture of Western and Eastern management applications. These companies have primarily adopted a clan culture that emphasizes the development of human resources, flexibility, decentralization, tea...

Material Waste in the UAE Construction Industry: Main Causes and Minimization Practices

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is facing the challenge of achieving sustainability on construction sites. One of the main barriers lies in the increasing amounts of material waste generated from construction activities, dumped in landfills. This research examined previous studies about the sources of waste and the recommended measures to minimize it. The significance of these causes and frequency of implementation of adequate measures in the UAE construction sites were examined. Four construction projects were visited before a survey of contractors' perceptions was conducted of the problem, causes of material waste, waste minimization measures and their benefits. The research revealed that the main causes of material waste are lack of awareness, excessive off-cuts resulting from poor design, and rework and variations. The most frequent measures practised to minimize material waste are: staff training, adequate storage and just-in-time delivery of materials. Waste measurement and waste segregation are areas that need more efficient implementation to achieve material waste minimization targets. Moreover, contractors' perceptions towards the benefits of material waste minimization revealed that this waste is primarily considered a financial problem and its minimization a cost-cutting activity. In contrast, the environmental dimension was neglected by surveyed companies.

Supply Chain Management in The UAE Construction Industry

Supply Chain Management (SCM) aims to improve trust and collaboration among supply chain partners, thus improving inventory visibility and velocity, and is an innovation that seems to be especially appropriate for construction projects. As in mainstream management, construction management ideas about supply chains have been evolving with corresponding influences from the theory of production, distribution, and strategic procurement, but there has been little significant research on the extent to which the construction industry is merging the supply chains and industrial organisation fields. In particular, the industry’s awareness of both the concept of supply chain integration and its methods are relatively unknown, particularly in countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).This paper describes an investigation into the degree of awareness of the factors affecting the implementation of SCM in the UAEconstruction industry as well as the differences between the traditional and modern management supply chain. The data were obtained by means of a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was mailed to 100 construction companies in the UAEin 2007. Seventy-two valid responses were received. The majority of these supported the need to use SCM as a tool to meet project objectives and identified the critical factors affecting the performance of supply chains to be Support by upper management: Customer need approaches; Supply chain technical background; and Following company procedures in dealing with supply chain management. Importance-performance analysis indicated the largest improvements to be needed in Support by upper management; Activity sequences; Customer need approaches; Supply chain technical background; and Resource planning. In contrast with other developed countries, the requirement for UAEcompanies to associate with at least one local counterpart company also has a significant effect on the manner of SCM implementation – particularly in the approach and expectations concerning knowledge sharing and coordination.