Construction

Construction Lawyers in Dubai for Contracts, Claims and Project Disputes

AY Advocates advises developers, employers, contractors, subcontractors, consultants, suppliers and other project stakeholders on construction, infrastructure and energy matters across the UAE. Our construction lawyers in Dubai assist with contract preparation, project risk, payment disputes, delay claims, variations, defects, termination and dispute resolution.

Construction claims are often determined by the contract and the records created while the project is underway. Notices, programmes, payment certificates, variation instructions, correspondence and site records can all affect whether a claim can be established or successfully defended. Early review helps identify these issues before positions become harder to protect.

As a construction law firm, we draft and review FIDIC-based and bespoke contracts, subcontracts, consultancy appointments, supply agreements and project security documents. Where disputes arise, our construction law lawyers advise on the contractual, technical and evidential issues involved and assist with negotiation, mediation, arbitration or court proceedings where appropriate.

What We Do

• Contract drafting and negotiation: Main contracts, subcontracts, consultancy appointments and design agreements on FIDIC and bespoke forms, with attention to payment, notices, variations, liability caps and the dispute clause.
• Extension of time and delay claims: Preparation and defence of extension of time claims, concurrent delay analysis, and the programme evidence that makes or breaks them.
• Prolongation and disruption costs: Claims for time-related cost, loss of productivity and acceleration, together with the quantum evidence needed to prove them rather than merely assert them.
• Variations and change: Entitlement to and valuation of variations, whether instructed, constructive or disputed, including claims for work carried out without a formal instruction.
• Payment, certification and bonds: Interim and final payment disputes, certification failures, retention release, and advance payment and performance bond calls, including urgent applications to restrain an unjustified call.
• Defects and decennial liability: Defective work claims during the defects liability period, and structural defect claims under the decennial liability regime, which may impose liability on contractors and engineers for ten years from handover for collapse or defects affecting structural integrity and safety. This liability cannot simply be excluded or reduced by contract.
• Termination and suspension: Termination for default and for convenience, suspension for non-payment, and the consequences of getting the procedure wrong, which can result in significant contractual and financial exposure.
• Infrastructure and energy projects: EPC, O&M and concession agreements for utilities, transport and power projects including renewables, together with the interface and grid agreements that sit alongside them.
• Blacklisting and regulatory issues: Challenging blacklisting and contractor registration decisions, and advising on the licensing and classification requirements applicable to contractors and consultants.
• Dispute resolution: Arbitration and litigation of construction disputes, together with engineer's determinations, dispute boards and amicable settlement procedures where these are required by the contract.

Who We Act For

AY Advocates acts for employers, developers and government-related entities, main contractors and subcontractors, engineers and consultants, suppliers, project financiers and insurers.

Our work covers both active projects and disputes, allowing contractual and evidential issues to be considered before, during and after formal proceedings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a construction claim notice was submitted late?

The effect depends on the contract. Some notice provisions may operate as conditions precedent, while others may have different consequences. The wording of the clause and the parties' subsequent conduct should be reviewed before concluding that the claim has been lost.

What is decennial liability in UAE construction law?

Decennial liability is a statutory regime that may impose liability on contractors and engineers for collapse or defects threatening the structural integrity or safety of certain works for ten years from handover. Contractual provisions cannot simply exclude or reduce that statutory liability.

Can an employer call a performance bond during a construction dispute?

Potentially, yes. Whether the call can be challenged depends on the wording and nature of the bond, the basis of the demand and the surrounding circumstances. Urgent review is important because bond demands can move quickly.

Is arbitration always better than court proceedings for a construction dispute?

No. Arbitration may suit technically complex, high-value or international projects, while court proceedings may be more appropriate in other circumstances. The contract, dispute value, complexity, parties and enforcement position should all be considered.

When should a construction lawyer be involved in a project dispute?

Ideally before the dispute becomes formal. Early advice can help protect contractual notices, payment positions, variation claims, delay records and termination rights while the relevant project evidence is still being created.