During the March-2020, the human history wrote about COVID-19; a new disease that affected all aspects of life, where no one is safe and the only way to save your own life is to get yourself heavily isolated. Concurrently, Governments around the world are strongly launching procedures and policies in an ambition to slowing down the COVID-19, if not containing it completely.

Due to the imposed self-isolation and the policies forced by governments to decelerate the spread of COVID-19, many people lost their jobs permanently or got suspended for an unaffordable amount of time. It is hard for businesses to confront the uncertainty while trying to apply the risk management methods and use different managerial tools to survive.

To adapt in the COVID-19 era, businesses are working hard on controlling the effects of COVID-19 on their operations. Most companies are focusing on maintaining their services as possible, where each company’s staff must assure the continuity of the business plan while working from their homes because of quarantine and self-isolation procedures. On the other hand, some businesses took advantage of COVID-19’s effects and began to utilize them to generate more profit by understanding the needs of people in quarantine, then steering their operations and services to fulfill them.

Businesses must respond promptly and keep working with stakeholders to carry on with their business plans, regardless of the break in the supply chain, in order to achieve what can be achieved based on their contingency plans, where businesses need rapid and agile actions to be taken to overcome the crisis and get back to safety.

At this significant time for all businesses, it is so difficult to foresee how and when this situation will be over and what are the economic consequences that may succeed after the end of this pandemic. As plenty of economy professionals assume that as a result of COVID-19, a severe economic recession will start, a great question remains unanswered: How long will COVID-19 last, and how will governments and people cope with it? 

With paying close attention to how the current situation of COVID-19 is critical to every construction and management company, PIPMC attended seminars held by BNC and studied their monthly journals in order to get a further insight on the matter and to remain updated with the latest fluctuations in the construction industry.

As the whole world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, different companies are issuing journals with the latest news of the pandemic and their analyses on its effects. PIPMC studied BNC’s journal titled ‘Code Blue preventing a construction pandemic’ which focuses on the trending situation of COVID-19 and how the construction market is adapting to this urgent circumstance.

By analyzing BNC’s latest journal, it is understood that all GCC countries are not only dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, but also with the concurrent sudden drop of oil prices. Moreover, BNC explained how construction companies were trying to complete their projects by the first quarter of 2020, but the precaution measures had the final say.

The BNC journal also explains what the UAE government is doing to elevate its economy and protect companies from the COVID-19 ramifications, as Abu Dhabi announced a package of 34 billion USD to support the country’s economy from the COVID-19 outbreak.

In the wake of the new pandemic, Covid-19 has rapidly escalated as the greatest risk to international and local economy. Lately, we have been witnessing a colossal economic impact of Covid-19 on financial markets and helpless trades like tourism, travel, manufacturing, and many others. The fall of several trades due to Covid-19 has a domino effect on the others, therefore PIPMC has devoted its efforts to study the economic, contractual, and successive impacts of Covid-19 on the Engineering & Construction sector.

PIPMC participated in MEED’s webinar on the effect of Covid-19 on Engineering & Construction in the Middle East. The webinar discussed the aftermath of the recent drop in oil prices on the oil & gas sector in region, noting that the crude oil price has plunged into an unprecedented low in April-2020 due to Covid-19. MEED predicted that the oil & gas industry will take a very long time to recover from the recent complications even after the Covid-19 pandemic is over. PIPMC forecasts that the industry’s practices, supply chain, and approaches will be completely restructured in order to accommodate the ongoing losses and to be prepared should another worldwide force majeure or pandemic like Covid-19 strike again.

MEED also discussed the surge of healthcare development projects due to the spike in demand caused by the accelerating number of Covid-19 patients. With the plummeting activity of the hospitality and trading sectors, GCC governments converted several hotels and hotel apartments as well as exhibition centers and large halls into quarantine or treatment hubs for Covid-19 patients. According to MEED, these adaptive actions took by the governments will not necessitate the urge to build more hospitals to accommodate patients of Covid-19 or; should god forbid, future pandemics. PIPMC agrees with MEED’s analysis on the subject on one hand and focuses on the change in market share of the healthcare sector on the other. To battle the Covid-19 pandemic, an unexpected deployment of national capital and resources to the healthcare sector is taking place on the expense of other sectors and is triggering a severe blow on these sectors, causing a very probable series of disruptions, reexamination, and even cancellation of planned projects.

Both PIPMC and MEED agree that the future of the Engineering & Construction business after the Covid-19 cloud dissipation will be unclear and unpredictable, and companies, trades, and businesses will not operate the same anymore. The only definitive matter is that the public health is and will be our greatest wealth.

Stay Safe!

The Burj Khalifa. The Etihad Towers. The Palm Island. The Mall of the Emirates. The UAE, most notably its capital, Abu Dhabi and its most populous city, Dubai, are home to some of the world’s most impressive and magnificent structures that tower over deserts and occupy massive lands. How in the world where they able to construct such skyscrapers and grand developments?

Not without help, that’s for certain. For any construction project, whether it’s a 70-storey mixed-use building with luxury apartments and offices or a modest medical clinic, expert project management is required. The project management consultants in UAE ensure the smooth and timely progress of any construction work being done in the emirates. By outsourcing project management to an established agency, your company can focus on other equally critical aspects of the construction. And you’ll have access to a high level of technical expertise necessary to generate solid and reliable plans.

Your chosen project management consultant should demonstrate capacity and capabilities for project planning and financial planning. Project planning allows you to identify key elements that secure the outcome you want while financial planning keeps your objectives and requirements for the construction project in proper perspective through detailed budgets and expenditures. One, naturally, cannot exist without the other.

Another crucial service your project management consultant should provide is specialized delay analysis and forensic planning. As any construction company knows, problems will arise in any given job. These problems could range from the critical (e.g., labor strikes, plan errors, or significant site conditions) to the compensable (e.g. worker accidents or contractor errors). Delays, for whatever project, can result in schedule change, increased costs, missed completion dates, and in the most troubling cases, claims and litigation.

Top project management consultants that provide expert delay analysis and detailed forensic planning as part of its claims management services can help your construction project anticipate or manage delays. The project management consultant will use thorough CPM (Critical Path Method) schedule in conjunction with periodic monitoring to evaluate potential delays so that you’re able to resolve issues immediately. When delays are inevitable, the analysis may then be used to resolve disputes and support claims.

Whether it’s a large-scale project involving multiple buildings or an average construction project, your company needs expert help. Seek the technical expertise of a top project management consultant in the UAE. And ensure a good start and an ideal ending for every construction job you get.

We are pleased to inform that Pioneer IPMC is now officially registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). "We have been accredited with the following surveying services:

• Contract Management

• Dispute Management (including expert witness)

• Project Management

• Quantity Surveying

And having the 'Regulated by RICS' status, will help to show our clients that we:

• Practice to globally recognized standards

• Behave ethically and acts with integrity and honesty

• Have the required skills and competencies to do the job

• Manages conflicts of interests transparently

• Safeguards the security of client money

• Manages our finances appropriately

• Provide adequate and appropriate indemnity for our work

• Handle complaints and disputes fairly"

New businesses are always out to prove themselves just as good and reliable as longer-established ones. It’s important to be aggressive and to display intense readiness to take on big projects to be taken seriously. However, when the big projects come – the ones that can totally secure their place in the industry and boost their income – many of these neophyte groups learn that they are not as equipped as they would like to be. 

Lack of experience should never be a reason to back down from a professional challenge. A competitive business thinks of the challenge as the perfect opportunity to learn and really stretch abilities. But sometimes, determining the “right” way of launching into the project can be a completely unfamiliar process.

Businesses that are dealing with a big project for the first time and are rather overwhelmed by the magnitude of the work ahead of them do not need to grope in the dark; they can always find help. There’s nothing wrong in doing that; it’s not a sign of weakness, but rather a fair acknowledgement that there’s always a better way of accomplishing certain tasks. And if a company’s future is on the line, “better” is the way to go. There are project management solutions available to organisations taking on a major project for the first time. A project management company can be hired and it will serve as a reliable partner in the accomplishment of such an important professional undertaking. It can provide proven effective methodologies to help a greenhorn business with the stringent process. From project planning, financial planning, claim analysis, engineering services, contract management, to health and safety – the project management company can assist the business through them all.

With project management solution services, a business out to prove that it’s worthy of a spot in the competitive league of businesses in the industry easily gets access to the method that has worked profitably for the “big brothers” in the industry. They can use it and automatically gain confidence that they will be able to stay on top of all the specified requirements of the project. They can be sure to be fully compliant not only with the requirements of the project but also with the standards set by the local industry as well as the International Organization for Standardization.

By securing these services, new businesses can save time, energy and money by doing away with experimentation with processes or numerous trials-and-errors. They can trust that their process keeps them working forward towards the best accomplishment of the project’s objectives.

An independent management consultant can provide a business organization ample legroom when it comes to managing and completing projects without putting a strain on the organization’s resources. However, enlisting the aid of project management companies in U.A.E. can be problematic if the business organizations which bring in management consultants do not know how to control the chaos that may arise. It is not uncommon for companies to overshoot their budget or miss deadlines.

As such, it is crucial for both the business organization and the project management firm to have a firm grasp of what the project requirements are as well as the associated risks involved.

One of the first key tasks that an organization and its project management partner should perform is to create a project management office which will oversee all the functions associated with the completion of the project. Typically, a project will have an impact and require the participation of various departments in a business organization. And as such, it is crucial to understand the role and contribution of each department as well as coordinate with each to avoid confusion, redundancy and even unnecessary costs.

Afterwards, the next crucial step that needs to be taken is to define a set of criteria by which the project’s success will be gauged. An adjunct to this will be defining the steps that need to be taken, the responsibilities of each role player, and who will be held accountable.

It is also important to create a governance committee which offers several advantages. First, this ensures that the decisions associated with the project are aligned to the objectives of the organization. The committee can also ensure that factors like cost and resource allocation are kept within established bounds.

In managing a project, sometimes one step should be completed prior to moving to the next step. When a deadline is missed, the time frame and the costs associated with the project can unnecessarily increase. As such, it is critical for all the tasks crucial to one step be properly coordinated and managed. Organizations can leverage to their advantage the numerous tools available, some of which are free. Of course, it is essential to have a firm grasp of the organization’s culture as well as technological expertise before settling for one or a set of tools.

Of course, tools are just tools. The bottom line would be knowing which steps are necessary for the completion of a project as well as carefully detailing who the role players are and what their tasks and responsibilities are.

PIPMC has been appointed as the Project Management Consultant for the Construction Stage of a 5-star beach hotel & resort situated in Dibba, Al Fujairah area.

The site plot area is 42,700 sqm and includes a 17-floor hotel building, single chalets and duplex chalets with private swimming pool.

The site landscape includes an infinity swimming pool, kids play area and a beach restaurant.

PIPMC has obtained ADNOC In-Country Value (ICV) Certification, the (ICV) program aims to drive optimal value from oil and gas reserves, increasing the ICV contribution and supporting the private sector to support growth and diversification of the UAE economy.

Project management is more complicated than it sounds. It is more than applying knowledge and skills to project activities in order to meet its requirements. The level of complexity becomes even more challenging when the project involves massive construction or engineering works. There are, as you can imagine, several issues to consider and work on to secure a construction project that is not going to cost more than its allotted budget and one that is going to yield multiple benefits for the contracting client.

In order to guarantee such favorable results from your construction project, you need project management that is going to be systematic and effective. You have the option to designate an employee to manage the project internally. However, the successful outcome of this option will depend on the employee’s and your organization’s capabilities and infrastructure in handling construction projects. A better option might be to consider external project management consultants specializing in the construction industry — professionals who not only have the existing infrastructure to handle construction projects of every scale but also the experience to see them through successfully.

A starting point for finding the right consulting agency would be to scrutinize the kinds of projects the agency has worked on. It would certainly be ideal to see construction and/or engineering projects managed for the government as this can indicate tremendous capabilities and resources as well as noteworthy reputation. If state or local agencies have repeatedly used the project management specialist’s services, you can safely assume that the planning, execution, and control accomplished for these complex construction projects have resulted in pleasing conclusions.

Another key element to finding the right project management specialist is to determine its capabilities for implementing the processes of seeing projects through. In terms of project integration, does the specialist possess the leadership and extensive experience to put all the essential pieces of the project together? Can the scope of the project be managed in a systematic manner, without negatively impacting cost, quality, and time? Will the specialist have a deep understanding of how critical document administration is to the organization of every construction project?

Project management demands a highly specialized set of skills as well as extensive experience. An internal employee, even one in management level positions, might not possess the knowledge, skills, and experience to make the right decisions that will ensure the successful outcome of any construction project. Moreover, a company itself might not have the experience to handle large-scale projects.

A contract serves to protect the different parties involved in an agreement; however, there are times when one party fails to adhere to the stipulations specified or, at least, beat the contract with technicalities enough to wear it down and create a loophole. To avoid situations that allow these scenarios to be possible, the services of a contract management specialist are deemed necessary.

Why is it important to stick to the conditions of a contract? For starters, veering away from their guidance could result in problematic situations such as going over the budget, completing a project past the deadline, failing to follow project specifications, etc. For another, breach of contract opens up the possibility of liability and legal trouble.

Abiding by the contract is especially crucial in matters concerning public road works, building construction, and commercial developments. To keep the parties involved toeing the line, it’s definitely helpful to have a system of contract management in place. Having a specialist such as a contract management analyst on board means that someone is able to oversee the project to ensure positive results.

This specialist effectively follows up the progress of the work and reviews it based on the standards of the contracting party. It is his responsibility to make sure that the project is correctly completed and that the level of workmanship remains high so that it is immediately obvious in the return of results.

Contract management specialists should be proficient in negotiating complicated terms and conditions indicated in the contract. It certainly pays for them to have a natural knack for management and business matters. Being decisive is also an important trait for these specialists to have. They must be able to work efficiently under pressure and be very conscientious about meeting deadlines. Written and oral verbal communication skills will also serve them well in their work. It’s definitely important that they be client-oriented so that their behaviour is always geared toward customer service. While displaying an inherent leadership quality, allowing them to shine in a team, they must also show that they can work beside the others and collaborate without any trouble. Some legal know-how will also give them an edge.

With the assistance of a specialist regarding contractual matters, any project is given the assurance of being carried out correctly, within budget, and on time. Taking advantage of this kind of service is clearly a worthwhile investment.

When you are just starting your own business venture, your primary goal would be to release your very own suite of products or services to the paying public. Also, when you are working with a small team, formal processes can stall the completion of a project. However, as your venture grows and expands its operations, it is highly likely that it will have several projects that are ongoing with various timelines.

In order to ensure the efficient allocation and use of time, money and effort, it is important to put in structures that will ensure proper management of these resources which, in turn, will ensure the prompt completion of projects. Here are a few of the best project management tools and techniques that you can use for your organization.

A seasoned project management company will always underscore the value of meetings. It doesn’t matter whether meetings are held weekly or more frequently. What is important is to update and keep all the members of the team on the same page with regards to the project and the associated tasks. Often, the frequency of the meetings will depend greatly on the size of the team as well as the time allocated for the completion of the project. What is important is that the schedule of the meetings should be amenable to all participants.

Time is one of the most valuable resources used in the completion of a project. As such, you should ensure that every second that is allocated for meetings counts. The best way to do that is to set an agenda and stick to that to ensure that the meeting ends quickly. You also might want to utilize online tools like Google Drive that makes it accessible to those who are working out of the office.

During meetings, it is inevitable that negative issues come to the forefront. As such, you’d want to keep things in a positive light. The best way to do that is to focus on the problem and ask for suggestions to rectify it.

Finally, before setting a deadline for the project, it is best to understand what the deliverables are and to set the criteria by which you can gauge the completeness and quality.

Apart from Google Drive, there are other useful task management and collaboration tools you and your team can use including Asana, Basecamp, Huddle and Liquid Planner. It is good to remember that, often, it is the simplest of tools that get the job done and are usually the best.

The Holy Month of Ramadan is the season of giving, connecting and thanksgiving. – Last May 27, 2019 PIPMC employees gathered together to have iftar at Sofitel headed by the Chairman Dr. Ra’eed Al Tartouri and Vice Chairman Mr. Mohamad Zumeili.

This is the time where everyone is excited to bond and talk while enjoying the sumptuous buffet meal.

Building or construction projects are understandably complex operations. A large number of workers and specialists are needed to perform a variety of functions and accomplish tasks simultaneously, so a high level of coordination and control is in order. Generally, building project management involves the following functions: (a) identification of the objectives and plans of the project such as delineation of scope, scheduling, budgeting and selecting participants; (b) proper utilization of resources which pertains to obtaining the appropriate equipment, materials and manpower for the job; (c) implementation of the different processes involved such as design, planning, contracting, estimating and the actual construction in the allotted budget and timeframe; and (d) overseeing communication strategies that would ensure the effective management of all individuals involved in the project and the resolution of any conflicts that could arise.

Of course, for all of these functions to be successfully accomplished, an effective, reliable and highly qualified project manager must be at the helm. Construction projects are substantial investments on the part of the client, so it is only fitting to hire project management experts to take the lead.

In your search for the best project manager for your building project, you need to be on the lookout for an expert who can excel at handling the following responsibilities:

1. Managing the construction project tasks. This includes looking over the proposed project, creating a cost estimate, developing a deliverables schedule, procuring the equipment and materials to be used, setting specific project goals to keep the work on schedule and within the specified budget, and drafting contracts (with the client as well as with the materials suppliers, subcontractors and architects who will be hired for the project).

2. Managing the people. Construction project managers have responsibilities similar to those of managers in virtually any other job field because they get work done through supervising and directing other people. Project managers are tasked with hiring the workers, coordinating their efforts, disciplining those who need a dose of it, and even deciding if a worker is not a good match for the project. He must also be skilled at communicating with both the client for whom the project is being done and the construction company that hired him. Of course, regardless of the size of a project, disputes can arise among its workers, and the project manager must be able to find the best resolution to the conflict.

3. Managing risk. A good construction manager must analyze the potential risks involved in the project (worker safety, work site conditions, public regulations, design miscalculations, environmental provisions, etc.) and devise a plan for monitoring operations and preventing or managing any negative outcomes.

PIPMC has been appointed to be the Project Management Consultant of Al Saadiyat Complex Development, Abu Dhabi. The project involves construction of a building comprising a two basement level, ground floor, 10 additional floor and a roof located at sector SDN1 Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi.