UAE – Mubasher: The UAE construction sector remains optimistic, with expectations to grow between 6% and 10% in 2020, according to KPMG’s recent Global Construction Survey.

Industry leaders surveyed in the UAE are optimistic about growth prospects and are confident that technology and governance are likely to play a significant role in the construction sector over the coming five years.

“Professionals however remain divided over whether companies in the UAE are delivering projects on time and within budget, with time (44%) and cost (44%) overruns ranking as the top hurdles facing capital construction projects,” KPMG highlighted.

Moreover, UAE industry leaders recognize that well-run projects are more likely to achieve broad measures of success in the future.

“The construction sector is the lifeblood of the UAE economy and it is very encouraging to see that the industry is expecting single to double-digit growth this year,” Sidharth Mehta, partner and head of Building, Construction & Real Estate at KPMG Lower Gulf, said.

The UAE is already seeing technological disruption in the sector, through 3D printing and automation.

The use of robots in the field, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and intelligent tools and equipment will continue to automate many of the less complex and high-risk tasks at the job site, leading to a leaner, more specialized and digitally-enabled workforce, the survey showed.

More than 80% of UAE industry leaders felt that digital modular fabrication will be widely implemented within the next ten years.

“Construction companies that continue to invest in people and implement a technology-enabled strategic road map will be well-positioned to face industry disruption and improve their capital and program performance, putting them on the fast-paced track to growth,” Mehta concluded.