This is the first article in a series of short articles which
will look at some of the basic features of construction and
engineering contracts under the law of the United Arab
Emirates. This article will start the series by looking at
how a contract for construction work is treated under UAE
law.
A construction contract is a particular form of contract: in
addition to meeting the general law requirements for a valid
contract, under the law applicable in the UAE there are special
statutory provisions that are applicable to such a contract.
Before looking at these requirements, it is worth restating the
fundamental importance of the contract in the construction
industry: it should define the relationship between the parties and
their respective roles and objectives, fairly apportion risk and
reward, and address such matters as to how issues that arise are to
be managed, addressed and resolved. All too often the
contract is imposed by one party on the other – a
