The construction sector in the UAE: genesis and development

(Extract from introduction) The construction sector has always played a vital role in the economy of the UAE. It contributes in no small way to the national income and contributes to the development of the UAE's other economic sectors as well. The construction sector has also played a major part in the infrastructural establishment of the state and indeed, also contributed to the intellectual development of the country. Although the construction sector has been, and still is, one of the key influences on general economic growth it is now facing, for the first time, a number of challenges and difficulties including: challenges relating to internal and external competitiveness, challenges relating to the need for more advanced building codes and quality systems, difficulties specific to the construction sector such as the need to be less dependant on foreign labour, problems brought about by the need for a more appropriate legal entity to represent the various elements in and associated with the industry and to enable a more formal, interactive interface with Government to take place and challenges which emanate from the need for a more appropriate sectoral organization structure, a structure which would enable the sector to reap the benefits from operating in a more functionally efficient manner. … The researcher recognizes that the types of change needed to meet the challenges the sector faces will, of necessity, require the support of the many interests involved, and in close proximity to, the sector and that, because of this, change may be more gradual and measured in pace than is required. If a framework for change has, however, been agreed this may, the researcher hopes, encourage the rate of change to take place in a more immediate time frame than would, otherwise, have been the case.