Introduction
Your project in Dubai is running late. The consultant is already mentioning liquidated damages, your site overheads keep running, and the client is holding back payments. You know part of the delay is not your fault: late drawings, design changes, slow approvals, authority NOCs. But proving it takes a proper delay analysis.
So the first question most contractors ask is simple: how much does delay analysis cost in Dubai? And the second: is it worth paying for?
This guide gives you indicative price ranges from the UAE market, explains what drives the fee up or down, and shows how to calculate the real return before you decide.
What is Delay Analysis?
Delay analysis is a technical and contractual process that identifies why a project finished (or will finish) later than planned, which party is responsible for each delay event, and how many days actually affected the completion date.
It compares the approved baseline programme with what really happened on site and links each event to the critical path. The output is an evidence-based report used to support an Extension of Time (EOT) claim, a commercial negotiation, or an expert report in arbitration.
The most common methods, as described in the SCL Delay and Disruption Protocol, are:
- Time Impact Analysis (TIA): Inserts each delay event into the updated programme at the time it happened and measures its effect. The most widely used method during construction.
- As-Planned vs As-Built: A direct comparison of the baseline and actual progress. Faster and cheaper, suitable for simpler cases.
- Windows Analysis: Splits the project into time periods and analyses each one. Ideal for long projects with many overlapping events.
- Collapsed As-Built: Removes delay events from the as-built programme to show when the project would have finished without them. Mostly used in disputes after completion.
Key Benefits
1. Protection From Liquidated Damages
Every approved day of extension is a day the client cannot charge delay damages against you.
2. Recovery of Prolongation Costs
Site overheads, supervision, equipment and head-office costs during employer-caused delay can be recovered when they are properly linked to the delay.
3. Healthier Cash Flow
Unresolved claims freeze large amounts of money. A clear analysis speeds up decisions and releases retained payments.
4. Stronger Negotiating Position
Numbers and evidence end arguments faster than general letters saying “the delay was not our fault”.
5. Avoiding Expensive Arbitration
A solid, early analysis settles most disputes amicably before they escalate to arbitration or court.
Cost in Dubai & the UAE
There is no fixed price, because the fee depends on the actual workload. Based on the UAE market, most cases fall into three indicative ranges (in AED):
| Case Type | Typical Scope | Indicative Fee | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Claim | 1–2 delay events, updated programme, good records | 15,000 – 40,000 AED | 2–4 weeks |
| Medium Claim | Multiple overlapping events, programme update, TIA and full claim report | 40,000 – 120,000 AED | 4–8 weeks |
| Dispute / Arbitration | Full forensic analysis, expert report, prolongation and disruption costs, hearing support | 120,000 – 400,000+ AED | 2–6 months |
Indicative figures only, not a quotation. The final fee is set after reviewing the contract and project records.
What Drives the Price
- Project size and duration: A one-year villa project is very different from a three-year tower or infrastructure job.
- Number of delay events: Concurrent contractor and employer delays need deeper analysis.
- Quality of records: Daily reports, minutes of meetings, correspondence and site photos. Organised records mean lower cost.
- Programme condition: An approved Primavera P6 baseline with monthly updates saves a lot of time. Without it, the programme must be rebuilt.
- Purpose: A claim to the Engineer, a commercial negotiation, or an expert report for a tribunal each need a different level of detail.
- Time only, or time and money: Quantifying prolongation and disruption costs adds financial work.
Is It Worth It? A Simple Calculation
Take an AED 20 million project with delay damages of 0.1% of the contract value per day. That is AED 20,000 per day. If the project is 60 days late because of design changes and late approvals, the potential exposure is AED 1.2 million.
A medium analysis costing around AED 60,000 that proves 45 of those days were outside the contractor’s responsibility protects AED 900,000 in delay damages, before counting recoverable prolongation costs. That is a return of more than 15 times the fee.
Common Pricing Models
- Lump sum: For clearly defined cases. Gives you budget certainty.
- Time-based (hourly or daily): For open disputes where the scope is hard to define upfront.
- Staged: An initial merit review at a fixed fee, then a decision to proceed based on the strength of your position.
How the Process Works: 4 Steps
Step 1: Consultation (Week 1)
- Review of the contract, particular conditions and claim time limits
- Identification of the main delay events and who caused them
- Check of the available records and programmes
Outputs: Merit assessment, recommended method, clear scope and fee.
Step 2: Planning (Week 1–2)
- Urgent notices issued where time limits are running
- Collection of daily reports, correspondence, RFIs, variations and photos
- Validation of the baseline and programme updates
Step 3: Implementation (Weeks 2–6)
- Programme update and delay analysis on the critical path
- Calculation of extension days and, where applicable, prolongation costs
- Full claim report with contractual basis and supporting evidence
Step 4: Results & Follow-Up
- Submission to the Engineer and responses to their comments
- Support in negotiation meetings with the client and consultant
- Follow-up until the extension or compensation is agreed
Before & After: Illustrative Scenario
Before: Contractor Without a Delay Analysis
- Delay damages deducted from interim payments
- General letters with no programme evidence
- Prolongation costs absorbed by the contractor
- Dispute heading towards arbitration
After: Same Contractor With a Proper Analysis
- Approved extension days that remove or reduce delay damages
- A claim backed by the programme and contemporary records
- Prolongation costs calculated and claimed under the contract
- A faster, cheaper negotiated settlement
The message: The real question isn’t what delay analysis costs. It’s what you lose without it.
Why Choose MANGMARK
1. Construction Specialists
We focus on contracting and real estate in Dubai and the GCC. We understand FIDIC, Primavera P6 and how consultants assess claims.
2. Merit Review Before You Commit
You know how strong your position is before spending on a full analysis.
3. Clear, Scoped Pricing
A defined scope and fee from day one, with no surprises.
4. We Follow Through
We don’t stop at the report. We manage correspondence and support negotiations until the outcome is agreed.
5. Data-Driven Method
Every conclusion is tied to the programme and the records, so it stands up to the Engineer’s review.
Conclusion
Delay analysis in Dubai starts from around AED 15,000 for simple cases and can exceed AED 400,000 in major disputes. In most projects, a proper analysis protects far more than it costs:
- Approved extensions instead of delay damages
- Recovered prolongation costs
- Faster settlement and healthier cash flow
Book your consultation today: Send a message on WhatsApp to +971 50 935 1156. We’ll review your contract and delay events, assess the strength of your position, and give you a clear scope and fee.
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This article is for general information and is not legal advice.
