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Rauda Saeed Al Saadi
Department of Architectural Engineering
College of Engineering
Dissertation
Title
A FRAMEWORK FOR GUIDING THE BRIEFING PROCESS IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE
UAE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Alaa Abdou
Defense Date
21 June 2015
Abstract
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is a procurement method that employs a long-term contractual arrangement between
public and private sectors with the intention of developing a public facility. A PPP brief must supply information that not
only particularizes the project requirements but also specifies its program, risk management, expected performance
output and payment mechanism. Many challenges currently face the briefing process of PPP projects in the UAE. A
uniform briefing process has not been agreed, because there is no unified tender law or PPP procurement process in
the country.
The main aim of this research is to develop a framework for guiding the development of PPP briefing in the UAE
construction industry. To this end, a process framework for PPP briefing with special reference to UAE construction
projects was developed first, on the basis of an intensive literature review and analysis of case studies. This framework
was validated through interviews with PPP experts and professionals in the UAE. Following this, the Critical Success
Factors (CSFs) in PPP briefing, with special reference to UAE construction projects, were investigated and identified
through a literature review, expert interviews, and a questionnaire survey. This step led to developing another framework
for CSFs in PPP briefing with special reference to UAE construction projects. With these in mind, CSFs were modelled to
develop a Decision Support System (DSS) the main aim of which was to guide the of the briefing stage for PPP projects
in the UAE. Its main objectives focused on assessing the readiness of public and private organizations for successful
briefing development, highlighting areas for improvements and helping to develop action plans to improve the briefing
process. The proposed model was validated using two mega PPP construction projects in the UAE. The outputs of the
implemented evaluation validated the major aspects of this model and its developed prototype, together with its
performance for its stated purpose.
Research Relevance and Potential Impact
“The proposed process Framework provides a clear systematic procedure for the briefing stage of PPP projects in the UAE, with clear activities
and their key tasks. In addition, the developed Decision Support system (DSS) can assist and guide decision-makers and professionals in the UAE to
improve their performance for brief development of these projects”.
Relevant Publications
• Al Saadi, R. and Abdou, A. (2015) Factors Critical for the Success of Public Private Partnership in UAE Infrastructure Projects: Experts’ Perception.
International Journal of Construction Management (Accepted and under final editing).
• Al Saadi, R. and Abdou, A. (2015) A conceptual process framework for the development of briefs in public private partnership projects. Proc. of
Eighth International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century (CITC-VIII), “Changing the Field: Recent Developments for Future Engineering
and Construction”, May 27-30, Thessaloniki, Greece, 1-13.