The continuous evolution of the UAE necessitates adapting to the dynamic nature of facilities management (FM) and construction sectors. Therefore, this study explores the current asset maintenance management (AMM) practices and FM teams' roles in the early stages of planning.
Twenty semi-structured interviews with 13 FM experts and 7 construction professionals (consultants, managers, directors, engineers) in the UAE were conducted. Data were analyzed thematically and validated by the triangulation method.
The study unveiled a disconnection between the FM and construction sectors in the UAE, unlike the global markets. Interviewees highlighted several areas that could benefit from improved collaboration between these sectors, including data transfer, space planning, design review, sustainability practices and energy savings, maintainability, defects liability period (DLP) and lifecycle cost (LCC) and budget estimation and feasibility. Additionally, the most frequently reported barriers to the collaborative approach were the immaturity of FM in comparison to the construction sector (60%) and the lack of awareness of technology (50%). Raising awareness on the importance of early FM involvement was voted the most as a solution to the barriers identified (70%). Interviewees further emphasized the crucial role of building information modeling (BIM) in fostering this collaboration.
The study’s originality lies in its focus on the UAE’s regional context and the use of qualitative insights from experts to understand the nuanced interactions between FM and construction, providing an in-depth analysis of local collaborative practices.
