Beyond waste management: high-leverage transition pathways for circular construction across the building lifecycle in the UAE

Purpose Despite ambitious national circular economy (CE) and net-zero commitments, CE implementation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) construction sector remains fragmented and predominantly compliance-driven, with practice largely centered on construction and demolition waste management rather than lifecycle value retention. This study investigates the implementation determinants that shape circular construction across the building lifecycle and identifies high-leverage governance interventions capable of translating policy ambition into lifecycle-integrated project delivery. Design/methodology/approach A sequential mixed-methods design was employed. A systematic literature review developed a preliminary implementation determinant framework, which were subsequently refined and contextualized through semi-structured interviews with 20 UAE construction experts. The validated determinants were prioritized using integrated best–worst method (BWM) and fuzzy TOPSIS to identify the governance interventions offering the greatest leverage for lifecycle-integrated circular construction. Findings The findings indicate that although circularity is increasingly recognized across the UAE building lifecycle, implementation remains concentrated on downstream waste management and recycling, with higher-value circular strategies rarely sustained beyond the design stage. The integrated prioritization identifies regulatory coherence and financial de-risking as the principal governance levers, supported by contractual embedding, early stakeholder engagement and digital traceability. Collectively, these interventions form a sequence of high-leverage transition pathways that strengthen lifecycle continuity and improve material value retention. Originality/value This study moves beyond compiling barriers and enablers by integrating systematic evidence synthesis, expert validation and multi-criteria prioritization to develop a governance-oriented framework for prioritizing circular construction interventions across the building lifecycle. By identifying where circular intent weakens and which governance mechanisms provide the greatest implementation leverage, the study offers a practical decision-support framework for advancing lifecycle-integrated circular construction in the UAE and other rapidly urbanizing, policy-driven construction systems.