Over the past two decades, the GCC has established a reputation for delivering ambitious megaprojects that push the boundaries of what can be achieved. Despite the ambition to drive forward with development agendas, change is needed to deliver projects. Also, the Covid-19 pandemic has amplified the challenges facing project delivery. Despite the challenges, this disruption of the pandemic provides an opportunity for the GCC projects industry to rethink its approach.

MECN speaks with By Paul Raphael, senior manager (ME) at Atkins Acuity, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, about enhancing project delivery and efficiency in the GCC.

“Throughout 2020, the pandemic encouraged people and companies to collaborate to overcome the challenges of remote working and social distancing. In particular, the crisis has accelerated the adoption of new digital and online technologies. Many project client bodies have expressed a desire to work more closely with their construction suppliers to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on their projects,” says Raphael.

Defining common goals

The starting point for solving many of the challenges facing projects in the GCC today is establishing a collaborative environment. Through a more balanced distribution of project risk with shared project objectives, stakeholders will find that developments are delivered much more efficiently, with minimal overruns. An integrated project programme with aligned objectives and incentives for all project parties encourages people to view projects holistically, considering the scheme’s whole-life value rather than seeing it through the narrow lens of their specific contract deliverables.