Building standards slammed

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The real estate profession is being driven by marketing and quality is suffering, according to a senior industry figure.

Only 10 to 15% of completed building projects in the Middle East are of a ‘decent' standard, according to an industry expert. The claim was made by Anwer Sher, managing director of EMS, at the recent Construction Week conference.

Sher also said that the industry was currently suffering at the hands of marketing campaigns.

"In my personal view, not more than 10 to 15% of projects completed in the Middle East have any semblance of quality," he said.

"Most of the projects you see are just mass-produced."

Sher backed up his views by referring to how poor quality construction is exposed whenever the region suffers downpours of rain. "A friend of mine was having a shower, and as he switched the shower off, the outside wall just fell off - the wall fell off because it was a few days after the rain."

Sher added that at the recent Cityscape exhibition in Dubai, he had quizzed many of the exhibitors about the building projects they were promoting.

"I asked each developer to walk me through the lobby of the building they were promoting, but hardly 2% knew what the finishes would be in the lobby of the buildings," he said.

"My complaint is that marketing has spoiled the industry. At the moment, advertising people are pushing the real estate industry - this is the first thing that has to stop."

But Sher claimed the industry still had a positive future.

He said: "All it needs is four or five developers and four or five consultants to take the lead. Some of them are indulging in poor labour practices.

"I would like to see contractors saying to developers ‘we will not work with you because your approach is unethical'."

Bishoy Azmy, deputy general manager, Al Shafar General Contracting (ASGC), another speaker at the conference, disagreed with this view.

He said: "I think there are a lot of quality completed projects in the UAE. There is lots of money and so many of the buildings are new and of a very high standard. I am a strong advocate for the quality of buildings in the UAE, but maybe in other parts of the Middle East they are not so high."

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Building Standards
Posted by John R. Diedam, Carmel, IN, USA on Monday 17 December 2007 at 22:35 UAE time


We work with the best architects, consultants and end users in the world. Most of the premier projects in the UAE are subscribing to very high standards but in the area of life safety and security, this world is still foreign to the normal run of the mill projects. Contractors who work in projects such as Etisalat, Dubai International airport, live and practice upscale building codes everyday. My company tries to share these best practices everyday everywhere in the world. Great article.

GCC building standards: A lot better than I expected
Posted by Hussain Motabagani, Khobar, Saudi Arabia on Monday 10 December 2007 at 09:02 UAE time

10-15%? Better than I expected from the building standards in this country.
Yes, investment and marketing have forced a rush on design and construction firms to get the job done in half the time, but eventually you will have a poor quality end product - everyone knows the consequences but no one says anything.
The problem isn't the lack of standards, the standards are set and they are out there. The problem is that local government municipalities and engineering committees have no role in the inspection and evaluation of projects during or after construction. All they do is give cute colour stamps to go ahead and build.
More needs to be done in terms of quality control. QC should be monitored by municipalities for new projects or at least inspected once prior to handover.
Issues will occur in any building project and that's a fact....but when the walls start falling due to someone having a shower...only then people will begin to talk.

Building Standard Slammed
Posted by Hany O. Dahdahi, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Monday 10 December 2007 at 01:46 UAE time

I do agree 100% with Mr. Sher. I would like him to share and help explain how we can move to a good set of standards.

Building Standards
Posted by Gloria, Sharjah, UAE on Sunday 9 December 2007 at 19:31 UAE time

When profit dictates the speed of completion of buildings then the standards naturally drop. Greed makes a dangerous partner in the construction industry.

Haste Makes Waste
Posted by T Crowe Semler, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday 9 December 2007 at 18:51 UAE time

“Haste makes Waste”... When contractors and investors push for quicker completion of a project they risk creating a serious quality control issue. If we set a time-table for the project that is “padded” with extra time, knowing very well that the construction schedule is set with specific deadlines, then if the job is slowed due to unforeseen challenges the project will not be in jeopardy due to rushed work which, in most cases, lacks quality and structural integrity. We must build for the long-term “iconic quality” not for short-term profits. What good is a building if the construction quality is questionable? Haste makes Waste…creating real loses in profits and reputation.

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