Delays and cost increases in the construction of private residential projects in Kuwait

TLDR

The study determines time‑delays and cost‑increases in private residential construction in Kuwait. A survey of 450 owners and developers across 27 districts provided data, from which time‑delay and cost‑overrun estimates and their causes were identified, leading to recommendations. The study found that delays were mainly caused by changing orders, owners’ financial constraints, and lack of experience, while cost overruns stemmed from contractor and material problems and owners’ financial constraints.

Abstract

Time‐delays and cost‐increases associated with the construction of private residential projects in the State of Kuwait are determined. A person‐interview survey of 450 randomly selected private residential project owners and developers in 27 representative districts in metropolitan Kuwait formed the database for the study. The socio‐economic traits of the owners/developers, and the pre‐construction family planning, the design, and the construction phases of the sample projects are presented. Estimates of time‐delays and cost‐increases are made, and their causes identified. The three main causes of time‐delays included changing orders, owners' financial constraints and owners' lack of experience in the construction business. Regarding cost overruns, the three main causes were identified as contractor‐related problems, material‐related problems and, again, owners' financial constraints. A number of recommendations end the paper. The minimization of time delays and cost overruns in private residential projects would require: the availability of adequate funds, allocation of sufficient time and money at the design phase, and selection of a competent consultant and a reliable contractor to carry out the work.