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Dubai | ReNews Pakistan

Construction projects worldwide are facing growing challenges as slow approvals, fragmented documentation and administrative bottlenecks contribute to delays, rising costs and difficulties in meeting completion deadlines.

A global survey conducted by construction and real estate management technology company PlanRadar has highlighted widespread inefficiencies affecting project delivery across Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.

The PlanRadar Construction Survey Report 2026 gathered responses from 1,728 construction professionals across 14 countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

According to the findings, nearly three quarters of respondents reported that project approvals and decisions frequently take longer than expected.

Approximately one in four construction professionals said approval delays typically extend project schedules by more than a month.

The report also found that projects experiencing persistent approval delays were more than twice as likely to face delays of at least one month compared with projects where approvals were handled efficiently.

Cost overruns emerged as another major concern. Around two thirds of respondents identified changes introduced during construction as a common cause of budget increases across multiple projects.

These changes may involve design modifications, revised technical requirements or adjustments to project specifications after construction has begun.

The survey further revealed that approximately 80% of professionals reported that at least half of their project documentation was scattered across emails, phone calls, messages and verbal instructions.

Such fragmented communication makes it difficult to track decisions, establish accountability and identify responsibility when disputes or delays occur.

According to the report, 70% of professionals who could easily access project documentation expressed confidence in their ability to demonstrate responsibility for delays or additional costs.

In comparison, only 35% of respondents dealing with poorly organised documentation reported similar confidence.

PlanRadar Co-Founder and Co-CEO Ibrahim Imam said that even relatively minor administrative delays could create significant consequences as construction activity increases.

He emphasised the need for construction companies to improve accountability, streamline approvals and ensure faster access to reliable project information ahead of 2027.

The survey also highlighted the growing importance of digital construction management systems.

Four out of five professionals using centralised digital systems to record project changes reported improvements in their ability to control costs or protect profit margins.

Additionally, 58% of respondents expected artificial intelligence to help reduce workloads associated with project delivery and change management.

The findings also offer lessons for developing construction markets, including Pakistan, where housing project approvals, coordination among contractors, documentation management and timely project completion remain important industry concerns.

The survey was conducted in January 2026, while its findings were highlighted again in October in relation to construction project risks in the UAE.

Pakistan was not separately assessed in the survey, and the results represent respondents' reported experiences rather than direct measurements of all construction projects worldwide.