Faculty of Business & Law (Theses and Dissertations)

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Accelerating Human Resource Development in Saudi Arabia
(British University in Dubai, 2009-01) Abuljadayel, Sara Nizar
The Adaptability of Adjudication in the UAE from the Perspective of Islamic Shariaa and Civil law
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2015-03) SALEM, HANI LOTFI
A number of jurisdictions have introduced a new mechanism to resolve construction disputes cheaply, expediently and efficiently. This new mechanism should consider the privity of construction contracts and without prejudice to the public policy. Adjudication fulfils all the criteria and was introduced because of the inefficiency of the traditional dispute resolution mechanisms and to secure cash flow in the construction industry. An adjudicator is a neutral third party who determines the dispute and has enough experience, impartiality and independence. The adjudicator is nominated by pre-agreement in the contract or by a nominating body. Considering the success of adjudication in other jurisdictions it is thus desirable to introduce adjudication in the UAE. However, how this system conflicts with the fundamental principles of Sharia and civil law has to be examined. Islamic Sharia law is considered as the main source of the law of UAE. It is important therefore to determine the potential legal obstacles that might be encountered by the introduction of adjudication in the UAE. This study also investigates the prospects of introducing a construction court in Dubai that is compatible with Sharia law and civil law. Such a court would co-operate with the Bar association, Law Society and general authority of Islamic affairs and endowment for training and registering of adjudicators. With such a court it is likely that the acceptability of adjudicator's decision may also be achieved given the status of the court as an independent judiciary.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF CONTRACTUAL DELAY AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN THE UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2015-11) Morris, Terence Anthony
This thesis examines the approach of the parties towards administering the conditions of contract with regards to contractual delay and ascertain as to why construction projects in the UAE are notoriously late in project delivery and why so many projects find themselves in dispute. Throughout the course of my studies the forms of contract available to the Employers and their consultants were studied and found to be quite extensive and the dispute mechanisms presented by them were found to be fair to both parties to the contract. What research establishing was that the most common forms of contract were the FIDIC 1987 and FIDIC 1999 “Red Book” contracts. Considering the dispute mechanisms within these contracts, why is it that the parties find themselves so often engaged in formal dispute and particularly arbitration. The research was conducted through an on-line survey of one hundred construction professionals for which there were seventy three respondents. The questions ranged from but were not limited to: 1. The causes of delay most commonly experienced, 2. The party most commonly found to be the cause of the delay, 3. The most common form of contract utilized in the UAE, 4. How the conditions of contract were applied, and 5. What were the contractual outcomes in the form of dispute resolution applied? The data provided supported my own experience whilst working on projects in the UAE for the last ten years that the choice of contract made was superficial, as the majority of contracts were bespoke and heavily weighted towards the Employer. Despite this what was evident was that no matter the form of contract, the Employer and his consultants constantly failed in the administration of the contracts leading to formal dispute. The UAE is developing its structure towards having a modern system of dispute resolution that would encourage in particular the likes of Mediation and International Arbitration. What is clearly displayed by the data received from this research is the Employers willingness to allow disputes to evolve and carry on for protracted periods of time with detriment to the project and the relationship of the parties. Would the industry and the parties to the contract be better advised or encouraged to administer the conditions of contract and address the disputes at the time of its occurrence as with the use of a Dispute Adjudication Board, or Mediation rather than the costly exercise of Arbitration?
Adopting FIDIC 2017 Red Book Extension of Time Procedure for Construction Projects in UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2018-07) BDAIWI, YAMAN MUSTFA
It has been concluded by several studies that EOT claims are among the most disputed issues in the construction industry due to lack, misunderstanding, or wrong application of relevant contract provisions. In the case of escalation to litigation path, the UAE CTC will be the framework upon which the ruling will be based. This will also be another potential area of further dispute as the concept and mechanism of EOT claim evaluation is not clearly identified in the CTC and thus it will be depending mainly on the expert report. This problem becomes more visible when dealing with other EOT issues such as the most suitable impact analysis method, total float ownership or concurrent delay. Therefore, construction professionals usually resort to using standard form of contracts such as FIDIC to overcome these shortcomings. Even though the EOT procedure is more elaborated in the FIDIC 1999 red book in which it provides a better EOT procedure than when relying on simply drafted bespoke contract, it was concluded in the dissertation that similar issues such as impact analysis method, total float ownership and concurrent delay are still be disputed under the this standard form of contract. The study then evaluated the same procedure under FIDIC 2017 red book to confirm whether it is a better alternative than the previous version. It was concluded that in the new FIDIC edition, issues of impact analysis method and total float ownership were dealt with more clearly than the previous version. The same was concluded for the case of concurrency expect that (1) there is an apparent conflict between Sub-Clause 8.5 and Sub-Clause 17.2, and (2) the construction professionals participated in the study survey were not in agreement with the method proposed in Sub-Clause 8.5. The participants in the survey were also in favor of the new agreement procedure prior to make any determination as proposed by FIDIC new edition. Accordingly, the study concluded that though the FIDIC 2017 red book seems to be providing a better EOT procedure, a precaution must be taken when drafting the particular conditions in regards to the concurrent delay and impact analysis method. In addition, particular conditions should not be drafted in a way that might appear to be in conflict to the UAE CTC, as in the case of adhesion clauses, given the fact that the judge has the authority of nullifying it if the dispute was not resolved amicably.
The Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in UAE Education Sector
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2020-06) Ahmed, Fatma
Artificial Intelligence is a very emerging trend in the field of technology and it has the potential to revolutionize and transform the way humans interact with the help of machines. The role played by Artificial Intelligence in the field of education across UAE is derived in this report through identifying the way it impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of the education sector. The research paper aims to derive the different AI based technologies that can be adopted across the education sector of UAE, retrieve the several advantages that the adoption can have and to identify the key issues observed while implementing the AI based devices across the education sector of UAE. The aim of the research is derived using literature review and surveys. With the help of reviewing highly credible sources of literature pertaining to the subject, the key domains of the AI based technologies are derived, their benefits while implementing in UAE education sector are derived and the problems or issues that are faced while implementing these devices are also retrieved. Deep learning, Learning Analytics, Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) and advanced data analytics are the key domains of AI that can be used for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of teaching and learning across the education sector of UAE. it is also derived that the use of these technologies would help in providing detailed insights to the teachers about the students and using it, the teachers can customize the method of teaching for every student. It will help in making the teaching process more effective and efficient by saving the teacher’s time in many unproductive activities. Key problem identified in the adoption of AI based technologies in the education sector of UAE is the resistance from the teachers due to the training required in it. The AI based devices and technologies need to be available and accessible easily and hence, this paves the way for the future research in this field.
Adoption of Metaverse in Aerospace Industry: Organizational Perspective
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-06) ABOUELELLA, LEENA; Dr Maria Papadaki
This study aims to identify the factors that influence the adoption of metaverse in the Aerospace Industry. Utilizing the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) Framework to develop a deductive questionnaire-based approach. The framework consisted of thirteen independent variables and one dependent variable (Metaverse Use Intention). 13 hypotheses are developed to statistically test the relationships between the 14 variables of the research model. The study adopted a convenience sampling approach, the population focused on the aerospace industry worldwide and on a general organizational type. The results from the data analysis from linear regression analysis suggest that the there is no statistical significance on the adoption of metaverse. The descriptive statistics collected offer an understanding of the perceptions and attitudes towards metaverse in the Aerospace Industry. The results show that this study needs to be more focused on specific sectors of the Aerospace Industry and to evaluate the individual perception as well as the organizational perception, utilizing the TOE Framework and TAM Model. The study contributes to innovation in the Aerospace Industry and provide a steppingstone to taking next steps in adopting Metaverse.
ADR’s Effectiveness in UAE, Is it worth it to take the Time?
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2015-10) Zeidan, Alaa Husni
The paper aims to discuss the most successful internationally recognized ADR's (Alternative Dispute Resolution) and the obstacles and difficulties facing the implementation the same ADR's in UAE. The paper also aims to present the relevant legal framework in the United Arab Emirates effecting the implementation of all proposed ADR's considering Cultural ,social and legal factors .Also the study will factor the existing legislation and laws along with some draft laws such as the new draft arbitration law. Finally the paper will recommend the most appropriate choice based on statistics and views gathered through a questioner addressing the subjected combined with recommendations to modify existing legislation to help improve the likelihood of a successful implementation of the selected ADR.
Aligning Project Management with Business Strategy
(The British University in Dubai, 2010-06) Al Sabaa, Amena Yousef
Business strategy is becoming a subject of very high importance in business environments. Business strategy defines organization objects and goals in long term plan. In order to compete in business markets, business strategy should be executed successfully. Project management is a critical tool. It has direct effect on business strategy. If used in mature way, business strategy will be achieved with significant outcomes. But if it goes in different direction than the business strategy, lot of negative consequences will result. It is not enough to complete the project successfully; it has to achieve benefits and be part of the business strategy. Lot of methodologies and frameworks has been introduced with different elements to ensure project management alignment with business strategy such as Portfolio Management. The long term goals must be achieved by selecting the right projects and managing them consistently. This paper defines the newly emerged concept of aligning project management with business strategy. The topics presented include: business strategy effectiveness, project management practices, project managers capabilities, alignment framework. Case studies are also included. These cases are analyzed to investigate the effect of project management alignment with business strategy in the business environment. The research is also including recommendation on applying successful alignment model. Finally, conclusions are drawn based on discussed topics.
Aligning Project Portfolio Management and Corporate Strategy: An Exploration
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2017-01) TAHERI, FERESHTEH BAHMAN
The persistence of this dissertation is to explore the challenges encountered with alignment of project portfolio management to corporate level strategy of a private sector business in construction industry; nevertheless, this does not contradict the likelihood of generalizing the outcomes of this paper to other comparable industries. This dissertation further considers success factors influencing the management of project portfolios along with achieving higher level of corporate strategy and competitive advantage. The research findings are based on the inductive qualitative case approach with regard to management of a construction development in UAE who fails to achieve the alignment of corporate strategy with the project portfolio. These findings ascertain the effectiveness of project portfolio management and aligning it with the corporate strategy of the organization and further confirms that lack of each factor may have negative consequence on the success of the project portfolio and hence the organization development. The review of literature suggests that management of project portfolios in a private construction division seeks existence and implementation of some success factors affecting the project portfolio. These factors consist of: effective selection and prioritization of projects, balancing of priorities, resource allocation, flexibility in allocating resources to maintain the balance, termination of unnecessary offered projects and unsuitable resources, effective planning and control, handling conflicts and pressures, linking the projects with portfolio’s objectives, and alignment of the strategy with project portfolio goals. On the other hand, it also determines the success factors influencing implementation of corporate strategy that include: coordination, control, and competitive advantage through businesses, and organization. Success level of the alignment of project portfolio with corporate strategy depends on implementation of these factors and how well these factors are progressed. The study values the challenges of project portfolio management in construction development and targets the managerial positions and leading teams as well as decision makers to reconsider their actions towards better management and success of the business.
The Alignment of IT Strategic Planning with the Corporate Strategy Case Study: Dubai Customs
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2011-04) Al Shehhi, Mohammed Marzooq
In this information age, no organization can thrive without harnessing the power of IT. The effective deployment of IT to achieve business goals and gain competitive advantage requires the alignment of business and IT Strategies of organizations. Using the Strategic Alignment Maturity Model, the dissertation evaluates strategic alignment maturity of Dubai Customs, a frontline public organization charged with trade facilitation in Dubai. Strategic business and IT alignment assessment is growing in importance. Different assessment methods have been used to try to pursue the complexity of this dynamic and evolutionary alignment. Despite the fact that alignment is a real problem and a challenge of utmost importance, no consensus can be found on what alignment really is, how it should be measured in organization in practice, and what measures should be taken into account. In this dissertation, three main questions were formulated; how is the IT Strategy aligned with the corporate strategy in Dubai Customs; what are the dominant areas which are used to align strategy; to find whether the alignment process is bi-directional between project management and business strategy; and lastly whether the projects are able to cope the rapidly changing business environment. As part of the research process extensive analysis of the current projects at Dubai Customs were conducted, understanding the scope of each project, their delivery timelines, conducting workshops to map the business strategy with each of the project. In addition to this interviews were conducted to perform qualitative analysis of the IT strategy alignment with the business. A quantitative analysis was also conducted to further confirm the results of the interviews with the survey questions. This research work aims to improve the decision making process at Dubai Customs for business and IT managers at different levels of the organization by means of increasing the level of understanding of the IT Projects, mapping each project to the Business Strategic Goals. So that periodically the IT Strategic Alignment with the Corporate Strategy can be measured and business decisions are taken accordingly. In addition to the above, this work will also help increase 4 the knowledge of IT Strategy Alignment, as well as enhance existing models and methods in practice at Dubai Customs, for evaluating strategic business and IT alignment. As a result of this study we applied the Luftman Strategic Alignment Maturity Model and found that strategic alignment at Dubai Customs is an established process, which is good communication between business and IT, some cost effectiveness defined, relevant processes exist in the organization and IT is seen as an asset driver. But there is still from improvement whereby communication, governance and partnership need to be improved. Once this is achieved in the future years, Dubai Customs will be able to attain, whereby bonding between business and IT is improved, dashboards are managed periodically, governance is managed across the organization and IT enables the Business Strategy smoothly. The last step is to work towards the Optimized Level, where the communication becomes informal and pervasive, value measurement is extended to partners, governance is integrated across the organization, partnership is co-adaptive between departments and architecture evolves with the partners.
Alignment of Team Integration with Successful Digital Transformation in the Higher Education Sector in UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-03) ANISSA BETTAYEB
This study looks into the alignment between team integration and successful digital transformation in higher education sectors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Although several researchers have studied various team integration factors, particularly in construction, there is a clear research gap that is filled in this research by studying different types of team integration related to technology and processes and aligning them with successful digital transformation implementations. Furthermore, the education sector is slower to adopt such new technology than other sectors, making such adoption more difficult to achieve unless a clear framework and practices are followed. Following a thorough literature review, this research work identifies the fundamental aspects that determine team integration from several perspectives. Furthermore, the research aims to investigate the relationship between individual and team traits, technological features, process aspects, and team integration, all of which will contribute to a successful digital transformation. Several project environmental variables, such as organizational support, the team's location and presence, work pressure, and task design, influence this relationship. Data was collected using the quantitative technique by delivering an online questionnaire to various employees, including leaders, project managers, team members, academics, and administrative staff working on digital transformation projects in several educational sectors in the United Arab Emirates. Different statistical methods are used to analyze the data, including normality, regression, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Both EFA and CFA contributed to the identification of latent factors and the investigation of variable-to-variable correlations. To determine the hypothesis and moderator effects, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and structural equation modeling (AMOS) were employed. According to the findings, Team Traits (Team Trust and Cohesion, No Blame Culture, and Team Diversity), Technological Aspects (Digital Skills and Technology Adoption and Exchange), and Process Aspects (resistance, innovation, team spirit, and communication) are important factors influencing digital transformation. Furthermore, the researcher confirmed that project environment factors such as organizational support, team location and presence, work pressure, and task design moderate the relationship between team integration and successful digital transformation. The findings of this study provide a framework made up of essential team integration factors that may be used to improve the implementation of successful digital transformation in the UAE's higher education sector. The new recommended framework offers useful direction to all decision makers and project managers, as it will assist organizations in managing, developing, and maintaining team performance, as well as preventing any human risks or project failure.
Ambidexterity through Project Portfolio Management Resolving paradoxes in organizations
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2017-06) PETRO, YACOUB
This thesis aims to build an understanding of how ambidexterity can be achieved in Project Based Organizations (PBOs). Ambidexterity is the organizational ability to simultaneously explore market and exploit knowledge and resources to improve performance and drive through sustainability. This thesis proposes the use of Project Portfolio Management (PPM) practices to show the path to ambidexterity in dynamic, albeit project-based, environments. This study has significant implications for practitioners and scholars. In that, it proposes taking forward project portfolio management practices to establish a link with ambidexterity. This link can offer new methods for practitioners to enhance the performance of PBOs. Moreover, the theoretical outcome of this study generates the substance of a new paradigm shift in this area. This new shift in paradigm can be used as a foundation by scholars to build on for future studies.
Analysing Bollinger Bands in Relation to Energy Spreads
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2010-05) Breebaart, Jasper
This thesis examines the signalling ability of Bollinger Bands when analysed with energy spreads. The study evaluates the profitability of preliminary trading systems over different spread constructions to identify the Bollinger Band signalling efficiency. The test is thus an analysis of the weak form Efficient Market Hypothesis as proposed by Fama (1970). Earlier research has illustrated varied conclusions. The research into Bollinger Bands has illustrated that Bollinger Bands trading systems are unable to yield economic profits and perform worse than other Technical Analysis methods. The spread research, on the other hand, clearly identifies that there are inefficiencies and large potential for automated trading systems, also with Bollinger Bands or comparable methods. This study has found that Bollinger Bands generate inefficient signals, are not a good predictor of spread movements. On average the performance between 1995 and 2009 has generated a loss. On this basis a “contra mean reversing” (trending) approach of the highest loss giving settings has been deeper analysed to find considerable signalling efficiency, thus potential trading profits. The evaluation incorporates conventional energy spreads like the Crack and Frac spreads and created additional spreads. A created spread of the end products of the crack spread, heating oil and unleaded gasoline, generated the best results indicating the need for further research into this spread. The profitability of the contra Bollinger Band system indicates that the Efficient Market Hypothesis should be rejected in the weak form.
Analysing Factors Influencing AI Implementation Effectiveness in the UAE Public Sector
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-10) ALAWADHI, JASSIM; Professor Stephen Wilkins
This research examines factors influencing AI implementation effectiveness in the public sector. Governments globally compete to advance public sector services and transform public services to digital to fulfil continuous citizens and business demands to reach the expectation of state-of-the-art services. Thus, governments worldwide are racing to utilise advanced Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Hence, governments implement Artificial Intelligence systems to develop cutting-edge platforms, serving as a base for the government's journey to AI-based government transformation. Existing literature reveals that organisations' cognitive technology projects fail to meet their successful implementation. Therefore, the AI-deployed system fails to deliver the expected performance and objective outcome. Further, scholars discuss gaps in AI field literature and reveal the absence of public sector articles since most AI articles are technical. Also, there is a literature gap in empirical quantitative theory-based research and research measuring the effectiveness of AI system implementation. Moreover, scholars reveal that nations' AI strategies are inspirational and lack implementation guidance. Consequently, this research aims to fill the gap in the literature by creating a theory-based, quantitative study to examine factors that influence the implementation effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence in the public sector at the organisational level from a technology, organisation, and environment perspective. Based on the extensive literature review, the thesis formulates a theoretical framework that combines the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI), the Institutional Theory (INT), and the Technology – Organisation – Environment Framework (T.O.E) to act as the researcher's lens to view the study world. This study tested hypotheses based on literature and existing theories. Hence, the researcher adopted objectivist worldwide ontology, positivist epistemology, explanatory deductive reasoning, and a quantitative method as study philosophy to examine the relationship between the study factors. The research findings indicate a significant relationship between study factors. However, the results show a lack of significance between technology compatibility, usability, and effectiveness of AI implementation. Further, the study results reveal an insignificant relationship between culture impact and AI implementation effectiveness in the UAE public sector. The research implies that public sector top management is critical to AI system implementation; therefore, public sector top management must have cognitive technology knowledge and understand the Technology – organisation – Environment aspects for implementing AI systems. To effectively implement AI systems, top management should plan strategically to retain organisation data with quality, create a collaborative culture, strategically demonstrate the organisation's competitive advantage, cooperate with human resources to hire AI expertise to lead AI-based projects and adopt an implementation framework.
An analysis of important market risk that international bank face
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2017-02) Shaara, Mohamed Ahmed Abou
International banking can be beneficial, especially about developing a stable financial system. However, the international banking system also faces major problems. This paper attempts to identify market risks that exist in international banking and discuss on the risk management. It also discusses the importance of international banks managing these risks. The study used questionnaires as the methodology for collecting data. The questionnaires were distributed to 30 senior managers/officers in various international banks around the world. The questionnaire had three sections, with the first part requesting demographical information such as gender, age, education level, race and respondents’ judgments regarding the goals and importance of risk management practices as well as the where these market risks arise. The second part focused on obtaining insight about some of the market risks international banks face and how they are managed. The five-point Likert scale was used to rate individual factors. The third part of the questionnaire contained open-ended questions that sought to obtain more qualitative information from the bank officials regarding risk management techniques and their specific understanding and attitudes regarding the major market risks and practices used to manage them. From the data analysis, the study found that international banks face a narrow range of market risks mainly resulting from liquidity, interest rate and foreign exchange rate. The banks are not employing diverse risk management techniques and only focus on blunt tools for mitigating and eliminating market risks instead of employing advanced strategic techniques such as hedging, diversification and analysis of value at risk to manage market risks. The study provides recommendations that can address the issue, including improving counterparty credit assessment and transparency, improving counterparty risk management, reporting and estimation, improving market conventions and practices and regulatory reporting.
An Analysis of Islamic Finance Framework, Authority in Islam and a Need for Paradigm Shift in Islamic Finance
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2014-03) Khorasi, Aasif
Islamic Finance has always been condemned by some of the influential advocates of interest based economies as a backward looking, less considerate and Shariah driven financial system still characterizing the principles laid in 6th century by the divine revelation of Allah (s.wt) and traditions of holy Prophet (s.a.s). Most of the scholastic and Industry efforts are aimed at providing solutions to financial issues faced by modern Islamic society with easy references to conventional banking system. They try to highlight issues with Shariah laws that underpin the fundamentals of Islamic Finance Industry and attempt to project a sense of urgency to adopt forbidden conventional forms of financial transactions like derivatives, leasing, etc in order to bring Maslaha for the society. However very few speak in length about the advantages of running a Shariah based ethical banking framework and the depths of foresightedness available in revealed sources on running a socio-ethical economic system. The aim of the study is to highlight several such issues faced by Islamic Finance industry, the distinct authority and legislative structure in Islam and a dire need to effect a paradigm shift in constructing future dialogue on Islamic Finance. While aiming at these objectives, the study also attempts to focus on addressing some of the key areas of concern ailing the present global economic system and makes a proposition towards creating a thought process that can safeguard interest of depositors, investing community and society, at large, without compromising on economic growth.
Analysis of Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) in different economies
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2013-04) Pandit, Zayd
The current dissertation is undertaken to analyze technical analysis, its indicators and their profitability and feasibility. This dissertation gives the basics idea of technical analysis and how it works and helps the investors in generating profits. It also shows how to use charts for technical analysis. In the analysis part it focuses on one of the most popular indicator called Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) and applies it in different stock exchanges to examine whether it works in all or not. The objective of this dissertation is to provide investors with a clearer view of where to use Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD). This dissertation analyses performance of Moving Average Convergence Divergence in five different stock markets. These stock markets include Bombay Stock Exchange, Athens Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, Dubai Financial Market, Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange and Australian Stock Exchange. The conclusion of this dissertation was that Moving Average Convergence Divergence was able to work at its best where the economy was not going through any kind of crisis. In other words efficient markets where as it was not able to generate much profit in economy like Greece which is suffering from European Debt Crisis. In Middle Eastern markets it was not able to perform well at all. At the end of this paper investors can easily make out where they can use MACD and where they need to use fundamental analysis or other technical indicators.
Analysis of Photovoltaic Installations Performance and Deployment: Case Dubai Energy Sector
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-07) DHIMISH, AMEER; Professor Edward Ochieng
This thesis investigates the performance and degradation of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Dubai, a region characterized by its unique climatic conditions. With a growing emphasis on sustainable and clean energy, understanding the efficiency and longevity of PV installations in such environments is crucial. This study focuses on analyzing the Performance Ratio (PR) and degradation trends of two prevalent PV technologies: polycrystalline silicon (Poly-Si) and monocrystalline silicon (Mono-Si). Employing a comprehensive dataset provided by Al-Suwaidi Constructions, the research analyzed PV systems across various strategic locations in Dubai, including Jebel Ali, Al Qusais, Al Barsha, and Al Lisaili. These systems, integrated directly with the grid and varying in capacity from 1.5 MW to 2 MW, were scrutinized over a five-year period (January 2018 to December 2022). The methodology involved a detailed PR analysis using linear regression models to identify long-term trends and annual degradation rates. Key findings revealed that Poly-Si systems, despite being less efficient initially, exhibited lower annual degradation rates (-0.73% and -0.93%) compared to Mono-Si systems (-1.48% and -1.63%). This suggests a notable advantage in terms of stability and long-term performance for Poly-Si in harsh environments like Dubai. The study also contextualized these findings within the global landscape, comparing the performance of PV systems in various geographical settings. The research contributes significantly to the field of renewable energy, providing valuable insights for stakeholders in selecting appropriate PV technologies considering environmental conditions and long-term efficiency. It underscores the importance of tailored solutions in the deployment of sustainable energy technologies, particularly in regions facing extreme climatic challenges.
Analysis of Project Costs for Green Buildings in the UAE – A Case Study
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2014-09) Al-Ali, Sultan Zaal .S
Green buildings, or as they are sometimes called, ‘Sustainable Buildings,’ or ‘High Performing Buildings,’ are buildings which aim to fulfill occupant or user’ needs and still be efficient in using power, water and other resources. They also help to protect the well being and health of occupants and users, while reducing the waste, pollution, and environmental impact. Governments are being challenged to reduce their carbon footprint in a stepped approach by a specified timeline. Information on global energy provided in a commissioned report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), revealed that existing buildings of all types, consume above 40% of all power consumption, globally, and at the same time, create more than a quarter of the total carbon emissions throughout the world (Howe 2010). The seriousness of these findings and others, have led some governments to take strong measures to reduce the energy and natural resource consumption of buildings, along with their environmental impacts. One of the ways they have attempted to do this has been by using more rigorous approaches in the development and adoption of ‘green building’ standards for their building projects. However, one of the barriers hindering other governments adopting sustainable building codes and practices is the issue of ‘cost.’ The general perception of green buildings is that they cost considerably more to design and construct than conventional buildings (buildings that have not incorporated sustainable features throughout their design and construction). The important question, therefore, is, ‘are these claims that green buildings cost more and require more initial investment, actually true?’ And if so, by how much? From the literature review, there was a general agreement that green buildings are more environmental friendly than the conventional ones. Green buildings also outperform conventional buildings on many aspects such as operational cost saving, indoor air quality, lower energy and water consumption and better productivity. However, there have been many studies into the concept of cost premium of green buildings. Some of these studies have supported the ‘higher cost premium’ viewpoint, while others have refuted it. This has lead to a great deal of confusion among developers, government bodies and other relevant parties investigating or involved in the implementation of green initiatives. In order to support or reject any of these studies, there is a very real need to conduct a proper, controlled study approach to determine the true additional cost green buildings will incur over and above conventional ones, if any. For this study the cost premium of green buildings in the UAE will be examined and analyzed in comparison to conventional ones. Therefore two methods have been used: Method 1: Cost Comparative Approach Two recent green buildings will be compared with two similar conventional buildings in terms of construction cost per square meter at a shell and core level. The comparison will include: HVAC (but will exclude air conditioning as the green buildings are connected to a centralized district cooling plant), completion of associated public spaces, and above or underground parking spaces. This comparative study will exclude the design fee, land price and finishing items. Method 2: Interviewing all key stakeholders of the Masdar Headquarters Building project as a case study to understand the different cost elements of green buildings and to identify the practices that have been adopted to ensure the cost effectiveness of green buildings. The outcome of the first method, it was evident that green buildings were not necessarily more expensive than conventional ones at the core and shell level. Any cost premium therefore could be attributed to other factors such as the meeting of client requirements on the finishing level, or the technology, which was installed and used, regardless of whether the building was green or conventional. From the analysis of the feedback from interviewee, it was clear that sustainable buildings don’t necessarily require any additional investment compared to conventional ones If they done properly, as the cost driver is related primarily to the client’s specifications and the subsequent design, rather than sustainable elements. What was evident that a green building project team needs to work in an integrated way, particularly during the design stage, to control the overall project cost.
The Analysis of Project Governance and Cultural Intelligence in the Successful Delivery of Complex Construction Projects: The Case of the UAE Construction Sector
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-03) ALEID, ALJAZZY BINT MOHAMED
The overarching aim of this research was to examine how project governance and cultural intelligence can influence successful complex construction project delivery. The research proposed a model that comprises project governance and cultural intelligence determinants that can be used to enhance successful complex construction project delivery in the UAE. The key variables of project governance, cultural intelligence and successful complex construction project delivery are significantly explicated in the literature review with the accompanying factors and references for each. To obtain the needed results, the study entailed the use of a quantitative research method. For this study, it was crucial to ensure that only the relevant respondents took part in each stage of the research. A total sample of 404 respondents was used in the study. This number of respondents was considered sufficient in the context of this study and the realisation of the set goals aimed at understanding the complex building construction industry. The study adopted non-probability sampling and snowball sampling strategies. Data analysis comprised descriptive statistics, reliability test, correlation test and regression test. Validity and reliability were attained through the assessment of their plausibility in relation to the existing knowledge on the relationship between the aspects of project governance and cultural intelligence and their effects on successful complex construction project delivery. The verification occurred when the model had been formulated. Workshops and group discussions helped achieve this goal. The research rigour was attained by focusing on verification and validation, which include aspects of methodological coherence and data analysis. As specified below, the novelty of the research can be viewed from two perspectives:  There is a paucity of research studies that examine how project governance and cultural intelligence could influence successful complex construction project delivery, yet the topic is of significance in the construction sector. The research findings of the study are intended to add to the existing body of knowledge in the single area that explicates the relationship between complex area of cultural intelligence, project governance, and complex building construction projects.  The proposed model is intended to provide senior construction project practitioners in the UAE with approaches for managing the rising numbers of multicultural teams based on the aspects of project governance and cultural intelligence. Keywords: Project governance, Cultural intelligence, Complex building projects, Construction sector, United Arab Emirates, Project management.

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