A general contractor in the UAE is responsible for the day-to-day management of a construction project, from the oversight of a construction site to the communication of all the parties involved. The contractor is also responsible for all the materials, equipment, labor and services necessary for the completion of the project, which may include applying for building permits, managing personnel and schedules on site, site surveying and engineering, and disposing of waste. At times, a contractor i... More >>

A general contractor in the UAE is responsible for the day-to-day management of a construction project, from the oversight of a construction site to the communication of all the parties involved. The contractor is also responsible for all the materials, equipment, labor and services necessary for the completion of the project, which may include applying for building permits, managing personnel and schedules on site, site surveying and engineering, and disposing of waste. At times, a contractor in the United Arab Emirates hires sub-contractors and contracting engineers to perform specific portions of the project.
Contractors in the UAE offer services that cover various specializations including acoustics, agriculture and horticulture, air conditioning, amusement and aquapark, blasting and quarrying, boring, building, cable laying, carpet and rug, civil engineering, contract furnishing, decoration and illumination, demolition, drainage and sewerage systems, drilling, earthmoving, electrical, electromechanical, fireproofing, floor and ceiling, foundation, grouting, gunite, industrial, insulation, landscape architecture, marine and offshore, mechanical, oilfield, painting, piling, pipeline, plumbing and sanitation, refrigeration, road building, roofing, scaffolding, swimming pool, tunneling, turnkey projects, and waterproofing.
Though many construction projects and contracts were cancelled or deferred as a result of the global economic slowdown in 2008, many developers and contractors still feel that the financial situation of the UAE is still strong and positive and that 2011 will be more favorable to the construction sector. The optimism on the part of the developers and contractors in the United Arab Emirates is attributed to the prevailing encouraging factors such as the decrease in the prices of building materials and of construction in general, the aggressiveness of the developers to push construction projects to completion while the prices are down, and the strong support from the government. In fact, according to a study conducted by Deutsche Bank, contractors in the UAE and in the MENA region are expected to post an 18% quarter-on-quarter increase in their earnings. According to reliable studies, Dubai, UAE will have an estimated 1.1 million square meters of completed commercial space and up to 48,000 new residential units completed in 2011. In addition, projects halted during the 2008 slowdown are being revived, under new terms and contracts.
The UAE is undoubtedly one of the largest and fastest developing economies in the Middle East and construction is the primary catalyst of its economic diversification and modernization. The United Arab Emirates adopted an ambitious economic development plan part of which is enhancing infrastructure and construction properties primarily aimed at providing housing for the growing population and support for the booming tourism and commerce. Recent reports based on a study by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry cite that the UAE is still the largest construction market in the GCC with the value of approximately AED2.6 trillion. In 2009, in fact, the UAE Economic Report showed that construction was the second biggest contributor to its GDP at 10.7%. In the same presentation, the Minister of Economy of the UAE highlighted that massive construction works in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah were currently taking place, in addition to other construction projects such as airport development, the Dubai Metro, Union Railway, and other infrastructure works. The United Arab Emirates has had massive investments in the construction sector from both public and private entities around the world during the past few years dedicated to the development and improvement of infrastructure projects in the area of hospitality, real estate, retail, and healthcare. As a result, UAE was catapulted as one of the top business and commerce destinations in the world.
Today, contractors, developers and manufacturers in the UAE continue to employ new technologies which will help expand their capabilities and improve the quality of their construction projects. New technologies in the sector being used in the UAE include enthalpy control in air handling units which may help in saving electricity costs in moderate climatic areas. In addition, water-saving vacuum sewage systems are now also being utilized in the UAE in projects such as the Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Khalifa Residential Tower. Thanks to these efforts on the part of the contractors, developers and manufacturers, the UAE is now identified as the leader in adopting green measures in infrastructure and building design. << Hide