Shortage of labour hits UAE projects

More than 160 construction projects in the UAE are being delayed because of an alarming shortage of skilled labour, according to latest figures in the industry.

David Savage, managing director of Al Habtoor Engineering, said, "The Gulf market is perhaps the hottest construction market in terms of activity of all time. There's no sign of slowing or reduction. There have been booms in the past but not a sustained boom like this in the world construction industry."

There are nowadays $160 billion worth of projects in Dubai City and around one million laborers in the construction industry, with around 95 per cent of the workforce being foreigners.

Samir Khosla, vice-chairman of Dynamic Staffing Solutions said in all industries in the UAE, 42.5 per cent of expatriate workers are Indian. "And 60 to 70 percent of them are in the construction property industry."

According to Greg Christofides, executive director at Arabtec, "We currently have about 40,000 people. Our prediction for 2008 is to rise this by 50 per cent."

Khosla said, "Lots of the main contractors are now looking at technology as a way to reduce the labour component."