Pioneering Excellence in PPP Projects: The Wave One Success Story

At Pioneer IPMC, we take immense pride in our role as Independent Certifier for the groundbreaking Wave One Project, one of the first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This remarkable project aligns with the visionary goals of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision, spearheaded by Tatweer Building Company (TBC), a Public Investment Fund (PIF) entity, which, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE), serves as the Procurer, and Wave One Company as the investor.

The Wave One Project set a benchmark in educational infrastructure, delivering 60 state-or-the-art schools across Makkah and Jeddah within an impressive 36-month timeline. These schools were developed, designed, financed, built, and are being maintained by Wave One Company.

As the Independent Certifier, Pioneer ensured the project’s success by delivering meticulous oversight and unbiased evaluations across all phases. Our contributions included:

• Biweekly Reporting: Providing detailed insights on project progress, highlighting compliance and noncompliance to both the Procurer and Contractor.
• Design Reviews: Thorough assessments of RIBA Stage 2, 3, and 4 design drawings and specifications to ensure compliance with project requirements.
• Procedure Reviews: Conducting regular audits of quality assurance protocols, while witnessing and reviewing testing and commissioning activities.
• Construction Reviews: Performing frequent site visits and random inspections to monitor quality and progress.
• Certification: Issuing key certificates, including the Construction Completion and Acceptance Certificates, upon achieving satisfactory standards.
• Dispute Resolution: Faithfully mediating disputes when requested, fostering collaboration and resolution between stakeholders.

The culmination of this project was marked by a prestigious Award of Outstanding Performance and Partner of Success, presented to Pioneer IPMC by Wave One Project Company Ltd. This accolade stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, reliability, and collaboration.

With the successful delivery of the Wave One Project, Pioneer IPMC reaffirms its position as a trusted partner in delivering transformative projects that shape the future of infrastructure and align with global visions like Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision.

Stay tuned as we continue to share our journey of delivering impactful projects across the globe.

From Concept to Operation: Largest Basalt Fibre/Rebar Production Facility in the Middle East

Pioneer International Projects Management Consultant L.L.C is proud of its achievement and the successful completion of the largest Basalt Fibre and Rebar production facility in the Middle East, located in the heart of Fujairah. With an impressive production capacity of 5,000 tonnes of basalt fibre and 7,000 tonnes of basalt rebar annually, this state-of-the-art facility stands as a milestone in the region's industrial and sustainable development.

As the first and largest integrated plant of its kind in MEA, under Arab Mining’s leadership, this groundbreaking project is set to revolutionize the construction materials industry. From the initial concept to final operation, Pioneer IPMC has played a central role as the Employer’s Representative, overseeing every phase of the project, ensuring the successful realization of its ambitious goals.

Bringing 30+ Systems together to Form One Functioning Facility Complex

The delivery of the Basalt Fibre Facility was no ordinary feat; it involved the integration of over 30 distinct systems, each contributing to highly specialized production process. This new complex brought together an unprecedented combination of technologies, many of which have never been seen before in the Gulf region or even further afield.

Beginning with basalt rock crushing and sizing, the process advances through feeding and melting in furnaces, filtration of molten basalt, and fibre extraction through bushings. Fibres are enhanced through coating, sizing, and drying, before being transformed into rebars using a resin integration system and pultrusion lines. The final stages include cutting, sizing, and surface treatment, ensuring a premium-grade product. The production process is designed to ensure maximum efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.

Ensuring quality control throughout every stage of production was critical. A robust quality assurance system was put in place to test the operation and products at each step, ensuring that only the highest-grade basalt fibre and rebar are produced. Pioneer’s role as the orchestrator of these processes ensured smooth transitions, keeping all stakeholders aligned and focused on the shared goal. The integration of these advanced technologies marked a new era for manufacturing in the region, setting a new benchmark for the construction industry.

A Journey of Technological Innovation and Expertise

Pioneer IPMC’s involvement in this project started long before the project’s conceptualization. Our team embarked on a knowledge-gathering journey, traveling to the UK to visit similar facilities, learn about evolving basalt fibre production technologies, and understand the latest innovations in the field. This deep dive into the global landscape allowed us to bring the most cutting-edge practices and systems to the project.

Our commitment to excellence led us through every stage of the process, from the rock survey, feasibility studies and concept design to detailed engineering and turnkey procurement. The complexity of procuring advanced equipment and systems from international suppliers, along with managing local regulations, required careful coordination including managing multiple contracts, vendors, and technologies, each delivered by different parties, each with their own set of requirements. With Pioneer IPMC at the helm, we ensured that every procurement decision was strategically aligned with the project’s goals. Our engineers played an integral role in guiding every technical decision, from rock surveying to integrating turnkey systems and overseeing equipment installation.

Overcoming Challenges: A True Test of Coordination

The Basalt Fibre Facility’s success is not just about the systems and technologies, it’s also about the exceptional teamwork, problem-solving, and coordination required to bring it all together. Pioneer IPMC’s engineers and site team worked hand in hand with contractors, vendors, and technology providers to navigate the complexities of integrating multiple systems.

Challenges were numerous, from managing timelines to ensuring the safe delivery and installation of equipment from across the globe. Yet, thanks to our seasoned project team, every obstacle was met with a solution, ensuring that all systems worked harmoniously from day one. The successful delivery of the facility demonstrates Pioneer IPMC’s exceptional capability in managing large-scale, complex projects.

Setting a New Standard for the Region

This project represents more than just the construction of a factory; it’s a significant achievement in sustainable development for the Middle East. By introducing basalt fibre and rebar as sustainable alternatives to traditional materials, the facility is set to transform the regional construction industry, offering innovative solutions for reinforced structures that are both efficient and more environmentally friendly, which will have a lasting impact on the building industry for decades to come.

Vision Realized- Driving the Future of Engineering

At Pioneer IPMC, we pride ourselves on turning visionary concepts into operational reality. Our team’s technical prowess, hands-on approach, and dedication to excellence have been the driving force behind the successful completion of this remarkable facility. We are proud to have played such an integral role in the evolution of the Middle East’s industrial landscape.

This project not only sets a new benchmark for the construction materials sector but also exemplifies Pioneer IPMC’s commitment to supporting large-scale, innovative projects that shape the future.

As we celebrate this success, we look forward to continuing our work on groundbreaking projects that push the boundaries of engineering, technology, and sustainability.

To learn more about this project or explore how Pioneer IPMC can assist in bringing your next ambitious project to life, contact us today. Let us help you realize your vision with the same dedication and expertise that turn your vision into reality.

This article will focus on the pros and cons of litigation and arbitration as dispute resolution methods in construction related disputes. Dispute resolution is the process of resolving differences or disagreements between parties through a variety of methods that may be utilized to achieve that goal, the most renowned of which is civil litigation.

The exact process of civil litigation is invariably dependent on the unique laws of the locale and the governing law mandated in the contract. If a dispute arises between an employer and a contractor, either may raise a court action in an attempt to resolve the dispute. However, there are several glaring faults when it comes to litigation of construction disputes. Litigation cases are overseen by a judge that may or may not have experience with the particular industry related to the case. As such, in complex cases the judge’s experience may fall short and this presents a problem when it comes to complicated technical disputes, where judges usually rely on the opinion of a court-appointed expert. This problem is then exacerbated by the time-consuming process and the public relations nightmare attached to litigation cases. This myriad of flaws instills employers and contractors with a reluctance to allow litigation cases to be considered a viable avenue of dispute resolution when negotiating construction contracts. As a result, many employers have decided to enforce mandatory arbitration clauses in construction contracts.

In contrast, arbitration as a method of dispute resolution may or may not be more arduous than litigation. Generally, arbitration is the preferred method for various reasons, such as the time required, the confidentiality, as well as the finality of the awards, owing to the fact that arbitration awards are final, binding, and not subject to appeal. The lack of appeal speeds up the dispute resolution process significantly in comparison to litigation where judgements can be appealed numerous times before a final judgement is given. Though, it bears noting that the time required for the arbitration process varies greatly depending on the complexity of the case. Complex arbitration cases may take an excessively protracted time, would cost much more than litigation, and some parties may wish to annul the award due to some perceived error from the appointed arbitrators. Nevertheless, the most appealing aspect of arbitration in lieu of litigation is the experience of the arbitrators relevant to the industry or specific case. In litigation cases it is entirely possible for a judge with no relevant experience to be appointed to the case. While in arbitration cases there are generally three arbitrators appointed to a tribunal; the employer chooses one, the contractor chooses another, and the third is chosen by both of the arbitrators. This may vary from contract to contract.

Given these disparate methods and the apparent benefits of arbitration in lieu of litigation, organizations have endeavored to supplement the workforce with professionals well versed in arbitration. Pioneer IPMC offers services in both technical support during litigation and arbitration representation and has augmented its workforce to incorporate numerous professionals well versed in law and arbitration, such as Fellow (FCIArb), Member (MCIArb), Associate (ACIArb) members of the CIArb, MScs. in construction law and dispute resolution, MScs. in construction law and arbitration, and BScs. in law, in order to expand the invariable experience of its workforce and specialize in dispute resolution in the United Arab Emirates.

Pioneer International Projects Management Consultant L.L.C took part in the Jordan Gate Exhibition 2022, which was held under the patronage of Minister of Investment H.E. Khairy Amr between August 10 and August 13 at the International Exhibitions Center in Mecca Mall, which is a great opportunity for gathering and meeting between investors in the housing sector and construction companies, project management consultants, engineering consultants and suppliers of support services, to establish a solid ground and consolidate visions and find best ways for developing the sector.

The real estate sector in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is one of the most important sectors to the Jordanian economy, not to mention that it has recently witnessed an improvement in its performance according to the latest statistics issued by the Central Bank.

This sector is expected to continue growing in the coming years, noting that one of the most important objectives of the economic modernization vision in Jordan for the period 2022-2033 is to achieve a high level of quality of life for citizens by focusing on the Kingdom's transformation to become more vibrant and relying on smart solutions.

About 85 housing and real estate development, construction, and financing companies from five countries participated in the exhibition: Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates and Portugal, as well as Jordan.

Pioneer International Projects Management Consultant L.L.C. is always pursuing the opportunity to prosper in each country it operates in, and this is the way to apply the vision of the team to expand worldwide where Pioneer can implement the high-quality services it provides within the parameters of its mission of delivering the latest and most developed project management services.

To understand the importance of a project management consultant we have to explain the project life cycle and clarify some aspects related to any project, starting from the definition of project which is a series of tasks to achieve a specific outcome within a specific timeframe and budget where a project manager is the one who is responsible to assure with other associates the initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling and the closure of a project. (Project Life Cycle)

A project is not a routine operation but it is a specific set of operations designed to accomplish a singular goal as a project team often include members who do not usually work together and sometimes from different organizations, a project manager is in charge to manage and organize the project team into the defined timeframe and within the defined scope and resources.

An experienced project manager may master some skills that support the managed project and yield remarkable result, skills like organizing the chaos of project, encouraging teamwork, maximizing resources, controlling costs, managing change, and controlling quality. Each of the mentioned skills is important for overall project quality.

In order to understand who a consultant is, it easy to be explained from the performed role which is advice and support. A consultancy is a professional person or a business that provides expert advice to others. In projects, a company may appoint a project management consultancy if it lacks a project management expertise or want a project management advice from a third party.

Project management consultants bring specialized skills and knowledge to assist companies in making the best possible business decisions. They typically provide oversight and leadership in executing projects from planning to completion. Daily tasks can include managing budgets, resources, maintaining relationships to achieve organizational objectives, as well as planning, developing, and executing schedules to ensure timely completion of projects.

 One of the main focuses for consultants is quality control and assurance which include examining the quality of works like workmanship, finishing, materials bought, prepared as well as fabricated according to standards.

So, to sum up the answer of the big question based on the above details, if project owners want to ensure the success of their project, they have to hire a professional project management consultant to monitor the whole project cycle and make sure that the process is following the pre-determined standards within the project timeframe which minimizes the risk of extension of time and avoid claims as possible which will lead to the best outcome and project success.

We at Pioneer International Projects Management Consultant LLC provide integrated Project Management Consultancy on all aspects of construction projects. We pride ourselves in possessing experienced teams on Project Management Consultancy. Our unrivalled capabilities and expanding services are trusted in providing Project Management Consultancy Services for some of the most challenging projects in the United Arab Emirates.

The management and staff of Pioneer International Projects Management Consultant Group congratulate the government and people of United Arab Emirates for this extraordinary achievement, and we also congratulate ourselves and all the Arabs for this historical head start.

At this point till scripting this article; businesses are operating within the mid of the third quarter of 2020 and second quarter during COVID-19 pandemic, Many business founders and economists agreed that COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis which launched a worldwide economy recession, economic analysts are terrified from a depression as a result of long-term recession, they assume that a depression will strike because of demand and supply shocks.

Consequently, during COVID-19 crisis which primarily impacted people’s lives, consumers began to shift their needs toward products and services that serve the momentary necessity resulting in a demand and supply fluctuations. The supply shock occurs when factories and industries lack the enough capacity of production as a result of social distancing and closure of non-essential industries, on the other hand, the demand shock happens when there’s a decrease of consumer’s ability of purchasing goods and services at a given price because of increased demand on related healthcare products in addition to loss of income due to business temporary shutdown in many sectors.

Nowadays, businesses vision for surviving can be divided into two main procedures to be followed as soon as possible in order to overcome the incoming recession and depression; first is organizational agility where a business must merge between speed and stability through its operations to cope with the rapidly changing market and build a dynamic and innovative response based on a solid organizational basis. Agility can accelerate organization’s potentiality to impose pre-established plans where employees must be trained and experienced towards the way of implementing the corrective actions which will reduce the time to think then initiate.

Evidently that living in 2020 where 5G networks are breaking into the technological world; businesses must be remodeled into more digitized and advanced forms, this second procedure is called  digital transformation where COVID-19 proved that working online isn't a problem that may affect the effectiveness of a business in different sectors and it also generated new types of services that minimized the cost of production, rent, transportation time and money and led to an efficient pricing methods that competed in the market, the digital transformation has many faces and ways to be implemented and now it became a must for any organization so as to achieve survival, as example for digitizing an organization is when a company convince its customers to buy its products and services by using their own application or website, other example is advertising through social media so it can reach more scope and increase the diversity of customer.

In brief, COVID-19 pandemic taught us whether we are small, medium or big organizations that running any business in the 21^st century and in internet revolution era must follow a path where no businesses have followed before in the past; a business can create from scratch and deliver goods and services without dealing face-to-face with the last consumer or a supplier, it may be difficult for some organizations to be agile or digitize due to the lack of experience or resources but businesses must learn lessons from gigantic organizations that neglected or even ignored the new trends and changings and guided them out of market.

This article will focus on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or RICS. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is a professional organization that has developed respected global standards and offers various certifications for individuals that wish to bolster their careers in several industries or sectors.

In today's world of cut-throat competition and educational inflation, professionals search for any tacit recognition that aid their skills, earning potential, expertise, and employability. The RICS provides professionals with membership and certifications that supplement the goals of professionals all over the world.

The RICS offers two qualifications, the Associate qualification (AssocRICS) and the Chartered qualification (MRICS). The AssocRICS is geared towards young professionals with 1 to 4 years of experience, while the MRICS is geared towards professionals with 5 to 10 years of experience in a relevant RICS sector. Each qualification branches over various sectors or industries for a wide assortment of professionals. Some of these sectors include Building Control, Commercial Real Estate, Facilities Management, Management Consultancy, Project Management, and Property Finance and Investment. With each sector comes distinctive prerequisites that must be demonstrated by candidates for eligibility, those can be found here. [1] 

Each qualification, depending on the industry or sector, has differing prerequisites that individuals must achieve to be considered eligible, which can be found here for AssocRICS, [2] and here for MRICS, [3]. Additionally, although the qualifications also offer disparate prerequisites and benefits solely dependent on the industry or sector they are related to, the overall benefits remain the same. The RICS lists the benefits of the AssocRICS and MRICS qualifications as the following:

1. "Develop your expertise and earning potential, Build a global professional network,

2. Enhance your skills and employability, 

3. Make your mark on the world around us,

4. Demonstrate higher professional and ethical standards, and

5. Broaden your horizons and lead the debate." [1]

The RICS, being a globally recognized organization, has a plethora of members worldwide and is considered an icon that professionals’ endeavor to achieve, and organizations hope to supplement their workforce to seamlessly project experience, professionalism, and capability. That is why Pioneer International Project Management Consultant has various professionals with a multitude of certifications and qualifications, including multiple members of our team with AssocRICS and MRICS qualifications.

[1] https://www.rics.org/mena/surveying-profession/join-rics/sector-pathways/?=bottom

[2] https://www.rics.org/mena/surveying-profession/join-rics/associate-member-assocrics/

[3] https://www.rics.org/mena/surveying-profession/join-rics/chartered-member-mrics/

We are delighted to announce that Pioneer International Projects Management Consultant LLC has been selected as National Winner for the “Hotel Project” of the year category from UAE, Abu Dhabi for its Project Bateen Marina Hotel & Resort Development - Al Bateen (Royal M Hotel & Resort Abu Dhabi) by Meed Projects Awards last February 25, 2020.

The MEED Projects Awards is an award that recognizes the best quality projects that are completed in the GCC in the last two years, it has become the leading stamp of quality and achievement for anyone operating in the GCC projects sector.

MEED awards not only recognize the construction element of project delivery but also consider the value and quality of a project throughout its entire life cycle, from the design concept through to engineering and construction and its wider contribution to society and to the environment.

On behalf of PIPMC management, we would like to extend our appreciation for the amazing work done by our team to complete the project. The endless hours that team have spent working on this project, and the professionalism that was shown has impressed the entire team immensely.

This article will delve into the Project Management Institute or PMI. The Project Management Institute is a non-profit professional membership association for project management professionals throughout the world that want to bolster their careers and further improve organizational success. The PMI achieves this through, amongst others, a multitude of certifications, globally recognized standards, and professional development opportunities.

The PMI offers a total of 8 certifications of varying degrees and diverse project management disciplines. The most popular of these certifications, and the certifications covered in this article, are the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), and PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP).

The Certified Associate in Project Management is an entry-level certification for professionals interested in the project management field. Although this certification is not as widely recognized as its counterpart, the PMP certification, it is a valuable certification designed for those with little or no project experience. Such as students, recent graduates, or project management professionals wishing to garner skills necessary for managing more substantial projects. The prerequisites that candidates must meet to be eligible for this certification can be found here[1] .

While the CAPM is geared towards individuals looking to enter into the field of project management, the PMP requires a formidable knowledge base related to project management and the experience to go along with it. The Project Management Professional certification is considered the standard to which all other project management certifications are held. This certification is geared towards project management professionals that want to gain valuable knowledge, professional credibility, and advance their careers. While the general assumed consensus is that candidates for the PMP must be project managers before applying, the Project Management Institute states that “Even if ‘project manager’ isn’t part of your title, the PMP applies to anyone who helps bring a project to completion[2] ”. Although this may broaden the pool of candidates slightly, there are still rigorous prerequisites that candidates must meet to qualify for the PMP Exam. Those prerequisites can be found here[1].

If the PMP is geared towards candidates with a formidable knowledge base, then the Program Management Professional (PgMP) is geared towards seasoned professionals with a vast amount of “Program Management” experience. The stark differences between PMP and PgMP stem from the words “Project” and “Program”. These words dictate the nature of management experience the candidate must have to be eligible. The PMP requires candidates to have project management experience in managing a single project. In contrast, the much more stringent PgMP requires candidates to have program management experience, which translates to the capability to successfully manage multiple, related projects that span over various functions or organizations. The advanced difficulty of the tasks required of PgMP candidates directly corresponds to the difficulty in achieving the prerequisites, which can be found here[3].

Further on down the list of certifications is the Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP). Individuals who have managed to achieve this certification have displayed their advanced competency in the coordinated management of one or more portfolios. Individuals with this certification are highly sought after, and rightfully so, as PMI records that organizations with mature project portfolio management practices complete 35 percent more of their programs successfully. The prerequisites that candidates must meet to be eligible for this certification can be found here[4].

The last certification covered is the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP). The PMI-SP is geared towards individuals that have advanced knowledge and experience in developing, managing, and maintaining project schedules. The specialized nature of this certification makes it a highly sought after for organizations with a great deal of need in the planning and scheduling department. The prerequisites that candidates must meet to be eligible for this certification can be found here[5].

Throughout the world, organization strive to supplement their employee base with professionals that have distinguished themselves with PMI certifications as well as certifications from other organizations. Each certification shows an advanced level of knowledge, experience, as well as a determination to excel. And that is why Pioneer International Project Management Consultant has various professionals with a multitude of certifications, including PMP certifications and PMI-SP certifications.

[1] https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/certified-associate-capm

[2]https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/project-management-pmp

[3] https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/program-management-pgmp

[4] https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/portfolio-management-pfmp

[5]https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/scheduling-sp

Professionals in the construction industry with a drive to excel and bolster their careers have a plethora of avenues in which to achieve such goals. One such avenue is the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators or CIArb. The CIArb is one of the most widely recognized and esteemed organizations of its kind and it comes as no shock that construction professionals from around the world strive to become eligible for the various memberships available.

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators currently has five types of memberships that are available for construction professionals through applications if he/she meet the prerequisites for membership. The majority of the memberships have two available routes that encompass the prerequisites construction professionals must achieve to be considered eligible. The education route or the experienced practitioner route. Additionally, as each membership type increases in benefits, the prerequisites for eligibility also exponentially increase.

The first type of membership is the “Associate” membership (ACIArb). Construction professionals vie for this membership to demonstrate commitment to professionalism, integrity, and excellence. The educational route prerequisites require candidates to, at a minimum, complete one of CIArb’s introductory courses or receive an equivalent qualification from a recognized course provider. While the experienced practitioner route requires candidates to have a minimum of six-months experience in dispute avoidance or dispute management and to provide a reference for that experience.

The second type of membership, the “Member” membership (MCIArb), is vastly more difficult to achieve than the first. Construction professionals’ endeavor to attain this membership in order to indicate the high level of knowledge and/or experience in dispute resolution. Applicants wishing to achieve Member status through the educational route are required to have completed one of the following: Module 1 training and assessment components, successful completion of CIArb’s Accelerates Route to Membership (ARM) programme, or completion of an equivalent course from a recognized course provider. Alternatively, the experienced practitioner must have a minimum of five-years of experience in arbitration, construction adjudication or mediation in a lead/sole capacity, including settlement agreements, the management of proceedings, and attend hearings which have resulted in the publication of a reasoned award of decisions. In addition to the strict experience requirements, applicants must also provide references.

The third type of membership is the “Fellow” membership (FCIArb). This membership is considered to be a representation of peak professionalism, and construction professionals strive to achieve this level of membership to demonstrate the highest levels of knowledge, skills, and behavior. Applicants wishing to achieve Fellow status through the educational route are required to have completed one of the following prerequisites; completion of Modules 2 and 3 as well as passing a peer interview, completion of an Accelerates Route to Fellowship course (inclusive of award writing) as well as passing a peer interview, completion of an equivalent course from a recognized course provider in addition to a peer interview, and lastly completion of CIArb’s diploma in international commercial arbitration, Module 3, as well as a peer interview. On the other hand, the experienced practitioner route requires the same parameters of experience as the Member level with certain disparities. The minimum requirements are increased from 5 years’ experience to 10 years’ experience and applicants must also possess a knowledge of law of obligations and evidence at the first-degree level, or an understanding of law relevant to the applicant’s mediation practice. The applicant must also have experience in writing directions and final, reasoned awards or decisions/experience writing mediation agreements, heads of agreements, or memorandums of understanding.

The forth type of membership is the Chartered Arbitrators (CIArb). The Fellow membership is the highest level achievable by non-members of the CIArb. Moving forward, this membership require applicants to be an existing Fellow of CIArb in addition to providing evidence for numerous stringent requirements such as, but not limited to, detailed understanding of the Arbitration Act 1996, or equivalent, and ability to research, understand and apply legal principles, ability to write an award, actual conduct of an arbitration, as well as evidence of the applicant’s compliance with the Institute’s relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements in the three years preceding the application.

The final membership covered in this article is the Corporate membership. The Corporate membership is reserved for organizations and simply provides organizations with essential tools, networking opportunities, and support from CIArb. 

We are glad to announce that our team are now back at our headquarter in Abu Dhabi and Dubai office branch, this step was taken by the management after taking all the necessary precautionary measures to ensure safety of our employees in line with the government regulations and guidelines. 

Due to the continuous economic effect of COVID-19, Pioneer IPMC’s research team is attending every possible webinar and reading every possible article on the subject.

According to MEED’s latest webinar, there are 1332 projects known to have been impacted by COVID-19 in the GCC, worth 463bn$, some were delayed, suspended or cancelled because of different factors and the most affected sector is the construction sector followed by the transportation sector, leaving behind the industrial sector which is the least affected one.

Moreover, MEED webinar focused on projects in the tendering stage where some were cancelled but the majority are still on plan to be awarded soon with values of 700m$ and above. MEED Projects reviewed the predictions based on May’s data and the recent government cuts in spending in the GCC, introducing the fact that if the current slow rate of activity were to continue until the end of the year; there will be a strong fall of original predictions for contracts signing.

The main contributor to the current projects’ situation in the GCC stems from two main factors, the first of which is the significant drop in oil prices which took place in April 2020, and the second being the imposed civil lockdown in the GCC which caused direct negative impact on projects.

In COVID-19 era, companies must be careful yet brave because with greater risks, great opportunities might arise.

In view of recent events, this article will focus on the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) and its various implications on construction projects. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, many were left speculating its applicability as an event that qualifies as Force Majeure in contracts. While its applicability is in debate, it is apparent that the construction industry has certainly experienced on-going physical effects where the regulation of COVID-19 has impacted projects. These physical effects may include new government directives, procurement disruptions, schedule delays, workforce interruptions, permit delays, delays due to the addition of stringent health and safety requirements (such as, social distancing and heightened sanitization requirements, etc.), as well as financing restrictions which will inevitably affect cashflow.

Any one of the numerous physical effects of COVID-19 on construction projects is capable of causing a severe delay to a construction schedule. As such, with all of the physical effects in mind, working with Primavera to schedule around the obstacles caused by COVID-19 may seem to be a daunting task. However, while some of the physical effects are unforeseeable (e.g. government directives, permit delays, financing restrictions, etc.) others can be predicted and a work-around can be implemented into Primavera to accurately represent the expected delay due to COVID-19. A baseline in Primavera can be altered by anticipating the extent of the workforce interruptions and procurement disruptions and measures can be taken to mitigate the productivity impact that the more stringent health and safety requirements impose.

As the impact COVID-19 has had world-wide is widely recognized, it comes as no shock that many Contractors are filing extensions of time for completion claims and listing various physical effects related to COVID-19 as the basis of those claims. A great deal of these claims may well be justified as many projects are being negatively impacted by COVID-19. Nevertheless, many may be seeking to take advantage of the current climate with claims for extensions of time for completion. In order to safeguard against abuse of the physical effects of COVID-19 on construction, one must consider the various physical effects and ascertain if any of the physical effects are present in the Contractor’s claim. A careful analysis on the effects of procurement and the respective supply sources are required to determine the validity of the Contractor's claim. If a Contractor is expecting materials from areas greatly affected by COVID-19, the claim may be valid but if the materials and equipment are locally produced there should not be any serious impact on procurement, delivery, and installation on site.

Contractor claims of delays associated with administrative disruptions should also be carefully analyzed. The government directives and mandates must be investigated to determine the validity of such claims as many governments have mandated a total lockdown, while others have determined the construction industry to be a vital sector and thus not affected by lockdown or quarantine mandates. One such example is the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”), the UAE has determined the construction industry to be a vital sector and therefore immune to government directives and able to function at 100% capacity if proper health and safety measures are implemented. In the event that office support staff and employees are required to work from home for various safety precautions, the Contractor is fully accountable to ensure that communication and workflow is uninterpreted. 

The International Federation of Consulting Engineer (FIDIC) has published various forms of contracts that became international standards in the construction industry. Each form of contract is published as a “book” that encompasses the general requirements, and various special requirements, related to specific functions prevalent in construction. This article is going to cover a basic overview of the more widely used books in FIDIC’s Suite of Contracts and their respective use.

The first book covered is the most widely used, the Red Book. The Red Book, as published, provides the conditions of contract for construction projects in which all the design, or the majority of it, is carried out by the Employer. The Employer may opt to assign some elements of the design to be carried out by the Contractor. However, the Red Book is not suitable for projects where most of the design work is assigned to the Contractor.

The second book covered is the antithesis of the Red Book, the Yellow Book. Contrary to the Red Book, the Yellow Book provides the conditions of contract for construction projects in which all the design, or the majority of it, is carried out by the Contractor.  Generally, the Contractor is assigned the design work and must adhere to the Employer’s requirements which can include any or all types of work such as civil, mechanical, electrical, and/or construction.

The third book covered is similar to the Yellow Book, the Silver Book. This book shares the design characteristics of the Yellow Book but is geared towards Engineering, Construction, and Procurement (EPC) for process, power, and private infrastructure projects, or what is commonly called Turnkey. As such, the majority of the risks to the Employer are allayed and transferred to the Contractor with the express purpose of the Contractor providing the Employer with a fully functional facility, fit for the intended purpose.

The fourth book covered is venturing away from the most widely used books and delving into the lesser known books, such as the Green Book. The Green Book, similar to the Red Book, provides the conditions of contract for construction projects in which the design is carried out by the Employer. However, it differs from the Red Book with one caveat. The caveat being that the Green Book is geared towards projects of relatively small capital value, specifically, less than $500,000. Due to this, the Green Book is suitable for simple or repetitive works of short duration.

FIDIC has published several other books, each as versatile as the next, that encompass various special requirements of the construction industry. Although all the FIDIC books have some common aspects and a balance between roles, risks, and responsibilities, determining which book to use is solely dependent on the Employer, the projects nature, and the projects specific requirements.