The challenges of sustainable construction projects delivery–evidence from the UAE

Research into the delivery of sustainable construction projects has been gaining a lot of attention worldwide. Previous studies have shown that several countries embrace sustainable construction projects, but the uptake faces several delivery challenges. This research evaluates the factors that constitute challenges of sustainable construction projects delivery. A questionnaire survey was developed and distributed to construction professionals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to evaluate the significance of the challenges of sustainable construction projects delivery. Eighty-two questionnaires were returned and analysed. Out of the 33 challenges extracted from literature, factor analysis revealed seven clusters named, in other of significance, as financial, sustainable materials and technology, contractual, design, lack of experience, regulations, limited organizational awareness. This study recommends that mitigating these challenges will require modifying traditional project management practices, designing with a whole team approach, introducing contractual incentives, using an integrated project team and improving sustainability knowledge among stakeholders.