Zaneldin, E (2005) Construction claims in the united arab emirates: types, causes, and frequency. In: Khosrowshahi, F (Ed.), 21st Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-9 September 2005, SOAS, University of London. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Vol. 2, 813-22. CONSTRUCTION CLAIMS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: TYPES, CAUSES, AND FREQUENCY Essam Zaneldin Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 17555, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government is investing millions of dollars every year in new facilities to improve the infrastructure of the country. Infrastructure development has been phenomenal in view of the relatively brief period since the country’s establishment. In view of this, the construction industry is considered the largest single industry in UAE. Yet, it is also very complex and the most fragmented industry as it involves multidisciplinary participants and several stake holders. Today, construction projects are the subject of more claims than in any other time in history. Claims appear to hinder the completion of construction and cause delays in delivering projects. This research presents the results of a pilot study of the types, causes, and frequency of construction claims in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in UAE using a questionnaire survey that was conducted in the two emirates. The data received from the survey respondents is analyzed and recommendations to prevent/reduce claims in construction projects are then presented. It is expected that the findings of this research will help construction firms avoid the main causes of claims and, accordingly, minimize delays and cost overruns in construction projects. Keywords: Delays, Claims, Construction industry, Cost overruns, Survey. INTRODUCTION Construction claims are considered by many project participants to be one of the most disruptive and unpleasant events of a project (Ho and Liu 2004). Today, construction projects are the subject of more claims than in any other time in history. The high competition has forced contractors to bid projects with minimum profits in order to stay in business. In addition to their multiparty nature, projects are becoming more complex and risky. This has placed an added burden on contractors to construct increasingly sophisticated and risky projects with less resources and profits. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that the number of claims within the construction industry continues to increase (Ho and Liu 2004). In the following subsections, an outline of the construction industry in United Arab Emirates is first presented followed by a brief discussion on the types and causes of claims in construction projects. The Construction Industry in the United Arab Emirates Infrastructure development in the United Arab Emirates at federal and local levels has been phenomenal in view of the relatively short period since the establishment of the country. Modern cities have risen from the barren desert, connected by a vast network of first-class roads and linked to the outside world by modern airports and ports. Houses, schools, hospitals, shopping centers, telecommunications, electricity and water, luxury hotels and recreational facilities have all been provided in a remarkably short space of time. The current boom in the construction industry is the direct result