Article Summary
The article “Factors Critical for the Success of Public-Private Partnerships in UAE Infrastructure Projects: Experts’ Perception” by Alaa Abdou and Rauda Al-Saadi indicates that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become one of the leading markets for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This model is taken seriously in the UAE in an attempt to support the rapid development and completion of the country’s infrastructure projects. The authors wanted to identify the major factors that were promoting or inhibiting the success of such PPPs.
Detailed Summary
According to this article, the UAE has become the largest market PPPs in the GCC region. The PPP concept has emerged as a powerful strategy for promoting the construction and completion of infrastructure projects. The UAE government has gone further to implement this model in different economic and social infrastructure areas such as airports, housing, environmental projects, health care, and education. With this kind of understanding, the researchers wanted to explore and identify critical success factors (CSFs) for PPPs. In order to present meaningful inferences, the scholars conducted in-depth interviews targeting experts and professionals in the field.
After completing the study, a number of factors were identified that dictated the effectiveness and success of PPPs. To begin with, the effectiveness and availability of regulatory frameworks and laws were critical for the success of PPPs. In the UAE, this issue has been taken seriously within the past two decades. The second CSF was the ability to allocate risks among different stakeholders. This strategy reduced the challenges facing many projects, thereby delivering positive results. The third CSF was the formulation of an effective brief and identification of potential client outcomes.
The fourth attribute was the completion of effective business viability and feasibility study. This approach made it easier for different stakeholders to complete their PPPs effectively, address emerging issues and put in place a powerful risk mitigation plan. The fourth CSF was the utilization of effective project value management strategies or systems during the major phases of every PPP. The researchers observed that most of the PPPs completed successfully in the UAE had been supported by these aspects. As a result, such projects were able to meet the needs of different clients, citizens, and stakeholders.
The study also exposed a number of barriers that were affecting many PPPs in this country—for instance, the incompatibility of different regulatory frameworks for projects with the state’s laws disoriented performance. The absence of proper briefing processes affected PPP procurement approaches or processes. The government also lacked an efficient PPP unit to monitor procurement processes and facilitate efficient documentation. Another obstacle outlined in the article was the shortage of proficient staff for controlling and managing different PPPs. Despite the existence of these obstacles, the country has managed to record positive results from PPPs.
Concluding Remarks
According to the presented article, PPPs have transformed the experiences of citizens in the UAE. The above CSFs have continued to deliver desirable results. This means that every nation in the region should consider these attributes in order to promote economic development and meet the needs of many citizens. The authors conclude the article by explaining why the UAE should establish a powerful PPP unit to merge current legal frameworks for different projects and ensure that emerging issues are addressed efficiently.