The UAE has emerged as the economic center of the Middle East. Its strategic location, diversified economy, and relaxed business environment are just a few reasons why it attracts millions of professionals from all over the world.
Another major factor that adds to the charm of this region is its robust, modern infrastructure that features several major highways, public avenues, and imposing skyscrapers.
Most infrastructure projects in the UAE are increasingly relying on precast structural elements instead of on-site concrete pouring. This shift is driven by several factors, like cost-saving, practicality, and greater overall construction efficiency.
This blog delves into the main reasons why the UAE is increasingly using precast construction methods instead of the traditional old-school approach. So, keep on reading to learn more.
- What is Precast Construction?
- Reasons Why Precast Construction is Gaining Popularity in the UAE
- Reduced Construction Timelines
- Fewer Weather Delays
- Lower Labor Costs
- Increased Labor Safety
- Better Quality Control
- Unparalleled Durability
- Sustainability Aspects
- Greater ROI
What is Precast Construction?
Precast construction is an advanced and innovative building approach where concrete components like beams, floors, walls, and roofing elements are manufactured off-site in a factory and then transferred and assembled at the construction site.
First, the concrete components are made in a controlled plant environment according to the project specifications and standards with the help of usable molds. After that, the concrete is cured carefully, giving you a smooth, non-porous, and immaculate final product.
The completed products are sent to the construction site, where they are assembled in no time. This construction approach is gaining popularity in the UAE due to its low cost, high ROI, reduced construction time, etc.
The use of precast concrete in infrastructure development in the UAE aligns with the region’s broader vision for innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in the construction sector.
Reasons Why Precast Construction is Gaining Popularity in the UAE
The following are a few reasons why precast construction is no longer a niche but a mainstream building approach in the UAE.
1. Reduced Construction Timelines
Precast building systems and elements are prepared off-site, which allows you to create the components and prepare the actual site at the same time. Moreover, with this approach, you can prepare several similar components using multiple molds simultaneously, which further reduces construction time.
With traditional concrete pouring, you need to first prepare the site, pour the concrete, and wait for it to set before you can move on to the next step.
With precast construction, most of the steps are eliminated, which cuts down the construction time by 30-50%. This can make a huge difference in areas like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where urbanization is growing rapidly and both the project timelines and competition are fierce.
2. Fewer Weather Delays
Traditional on-site concrete pouring is susceptible to weather disruptions. You need to plan very carefully when to pour the concrete to make sure it doesn’t lose its integrity or surface smoothness to unpredictable weather patterns.
The risks of environmental delays are mitigated, if not eliminated altogether, if you use the precast construction approach. Even if the weather is not favorable outside, you can use that time to prepare more precast boundary walls, floors, or other key structural elements in the factory.
Once the weather clears, you can at once move these elements to the site and resume the project.
3. Lower Labor Costs
The construction sector in the UAE relies heavily on a workforce that is composed mainly of expats. The need for skilled labor is always increasing in the area due to rapid urbanization, and that leads to rising labor costs.
But with precast concrete, the need for on-site workers is significantly reduced. Since the concrete pouring is not done on-site and instead in a factory with machines, it reduces dependency on larger teams and the costs associated with it.
4. Increased Labor Safety
With precast concrete construction, you do not need to erect scaffolds, establish formwork, or create systems for elevated concrete pouring. All of these construction approaches are very high-risk and hazardous. Moreover, precast concrete construction leads to reduced site congestion by allowing for fewer materials and workers to be on the site.
With precast construction, you can use lifts or cranes to place pre-stressed concrete elements on both high and low-rise locations. This eliminates the need for the workers to do these tasks manually, which creates a construction site that is safe for the workers and compliant with the UAE labor safety regulations.
5. Better Quality Control
Unlike on-site concrete pouring, which is prone to defects and inconsistencies, the preparation of precast concrete elements is done under a carefully controlled environment to ensure maximum uniformity.
Factors like humidity, temperature, and curing time are fully optimized, which leads to better quality and a smooth finish of the concrete elements.
The high-quality precast building construction elements adhere to the standards set forth by ISO, BS (British Standards), and ACI (American Concrete Institute), which guarantees consistency, strength, and high resistance to environmental degradation even in the UAE’s harsh desert climate.
6. Unparalleled Durability
Compared to traditional cast-in-place concrete, precast concrete offers you much greater durability. This results from the higher structural precision, better surface finishes, and non-porous nature of the precast concrete.
All of these features equip precast concrete with the strength to better resist cracking, corrosion, impacts, and environmental wear and tear.
This greater durability is the reason why most modern infrastructure projects in the UAE that involve building bridges, tunnels, drainage systems, etc., are using precast concrete instead of the regular alternative.
7. Sustainability Aspects
The UAE authorities have introduced several initiatives in their UAE Vision 2030 and the Green Building Regulations to promote sustainable development.
With precast construction, processes like concrete mixing, pouring, and cutting are highly optimized, which generates very little to no waste. This reduces the risks of spillage, mixing errors, and rework.
Apart from that, buildings made from precast concrete give you greater thermal insulation, which leads to less energy consumption. And last but not least, precast elements are made from recycled materials, and they themselves are further recyclable.
All of these factors make precast construction a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach.
8. Greater ROI
Precast concrete components have standardized sizes and fixed prices, which eliminates budget overruns. The use of this construction approach promotes price transparency, which is essential for the satisfaction of customers and investors.
This construction approach leads to quicker project completion, which allows the developers to lease, sell, or occupy the building sooner. This leads to an early and higher ROI, especially when the project is for the commercial or hospitality sector.
Conclusion
Precast construction has gained sufficient ground in the UAE due to its exceptional ability to meet the country’s modern construction needs. This approach addresses and resolves key issues like labor shortage, safety, environmental impact, and durability in the construction sector.
This innovative construction approach gives you a combination of speed, cost-effectiveness, and quality. This is why most urban development projects in the UAE are relying on precast concrete instead of its traditional alternative.
It would not be wrong to say that the future of construction in the UAE will have precast concrete at its forefront, and that is why familiarizing yourself with this innovative building solution has become paramount for both investors and developers alike. Visit us at Naran Precast Concrete Co. if you are looking for high-quality precast construction solutions for both commercial and residential projects all over the UAE.