New research from PlanRadar highlights delayed approvals, rising project costs and fragmented documentation as major challenges for construction teams, with digital tools emerging as a potential solution to improve project delivery.
October 26, 2026 | Palak Kataria | UAE | PropTech | 3 Min Read
Image Courtesy: PlanRadar
Delayed approvals, budget overruns and fragmented project information are among the major challenges facing construction teams, according to new research released by construction technology company PlanRadar.
The findings come as construction activity across the UAE continues to expand.
PlanRadar's Construction Survey Report 2026: Managing Project Changes in the Age of AI surveyed 1,728 construction professionals across 14 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The research examines how project teams manage changes, approvals and documentation while working to deliver developments on time and within budget.
One of the most significant challenges identified in the survey is the impact of delayed approvals.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents reported that approvals are frequently received after agreed deadlines.
One in four respondents estimated that delayed approvals typically add more than a month to project timelines.
The research also found that teams experiencing consistently late approvals were more than twice as likely to face month-long delays compared with those where approval delays were uncommon.
These findings highlight the importance of timely decision-making during construction.
Ibrahim Imam, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of PlanRadar, said small delays in decision-making can quickly develop into larger delivery problems.
He emphasised the need for clearer responsibilities, predefined approval procedures and faster access to project information.
The financial consequences of poorly managed changes were another major finding.
Two in three respondents said mid-project changes lead to budget overruns in many or most of their projects.
Such changes can include requests for information, variation requests and change orders.
However, the survey suggests that digital tools may help construction teams improve cost management.
Four in five respondents using a central digital tool to track project changes reported improved ability to control costs or protect project margins.
The survey also identified difficulties associated with managing information across disconnected communication channels.
Nearly eight in ten respondents said at least half of their project documentation was distributed across emails, messages, phone calls and verbal instructions.
This fragmentation can make it more difficult to establish responsibility for delays, track approvals and maintain accurate project records.
Among respondents who could easily locate documentation, 70% expressed confidence that their records clearly identified responsibility for delays and cost impacts.
That confidence level was twice as high as among respondents who struggled to locate project documentation.
Administrative workloads remain another challenge for construction professionals.
Nearly half of survey participants reported spending at least 11 hours per week on administrative tasks.
Among those using central digital tools with integrated AI capabilities, two in three said they saved at least two hours per week, per project, on administration and coordination.
The research also found that 58% of respondents believe AI could reduce workloads across their most significant daily challenges, while 65% believe it could simplify major administrative tasks.
PlanRadar has introduced AI Agents designed to automate defined routine activities while maintaining user permissions, action records and oversight.
The findings come amid expectations of continued growth in the UAE construction sector.
According to Knight Frank figures cited by PlanRadar, construction output is projected to reach US130.8 billion by 2029, compared with US107.2 billion in 2024.
As project activity increases, effective coordination and information management will become increasingly important.
The research suggests that clearer approval processes, centralised documentation and appropriate use of digital tools could help project teams manage complexity more effectively.
Source: PlanRadar
