Analysis and modeling of delays during construction handover stage for building projects: a case study of United Arab Emirates

Purpose This research aims to identify, rank and evaluate the impact of delay factors on the timely completion of the handover stage of construction projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted in two stages. Initially, an extensive literature review and focus groups with industry professionals were utilized to identify and rank delay factors specific to the UAE’s construction sector. Second, data were collected from multiple construction firms in the UAE, and a delay estimation model was developed and subsequently validated. Findings A total of 30 delay factors were identified and ranked according to their significance index values. The top five factors were linked to various stakeholders, including subcontractors, general contractors, customers and project owners. The developed model demonstrated an accuracy of 71% on the test dataset. Research limitations/implications While the model shows promising results, its accuracy could be further enhanced with additional data or through the exploration of more advanced nonlinear predictive models. Practical implications The findings can assist various construction project stakeholders to better manage and mitigate delays, potentially leading to more successful project completions. Social implications Improving the efficiency of the handover process can lead to faster project completions, which in turn can reduce the social inconvenience caused by prolonged construction activities. Originality/value The study is novel in focusing specifically on the UAE and Gulf region, where previous research is limited. The development and validation of a delay estimation model tailored to this regional context enhances the originality of the research.