Investigation of disputes related to time extension claims in Saudi Construction

Project delays have been a global epidemic in the construction sector although significant attempts are made to prevent them. Although most of the construction contracts have provisions to address time extension claims and various measures are taken to eliminate this issue, the Extension of Time (EOT) claims still trigger major disputes. This paper aims to investigate the commonly disputed issues associated with EOT claims in the Saudi construction industry and explore better ways to manage EOT claims. Based on interviews with construction professionals experienced in handling EOT claims, this research reveals that concurrency and ownership of float are the most contentious issues which need to be clearly defined and agreed upon within the contract to avoid conflicts. The Saudi construction industry needs to adopt standardized contracts and develop contractual understanding and knowledge of the project team to avoid conflicts when interpreting the contractual provisions. Project records are paramount factor when handling EOT claims. The criteria for selection of an appropriate dispute resolution method must be defined in the contract based on the nature of the dispute to amicably resolve the dispute without affecting the relationship between the contracting parties. The research findings can help construction professionals adopt better approaches to manage EOT claims and dispute resolution.