Basel Al Najjar is a UAE-based Civil Engineer, Expert Engineer, and Arbitrator specializing in construction law, contract management, and dispute resolution. With a strong professional background in engineering consultancy, Basel has developed advanced expertise in FIDIC contracts, UAE Civil Code applications in construction, and the preparation and evaluation of complex claims, including concurrent delay, disruption, and extension of time (EOT) matters. He advises contractors, consultants, and project stakeholders on contract strategy, risk mitigation, and dispute avoidance, combining technical engineering knowledge with legal and contractual insight. Basel’s work is driven by a practical, results-oriented approach aimed at resolving issues efficiently while safeguarding contractual rights and commercial interests. Through his publications, he provides clear, actionable insights to support professionals in managing construction risks, strengthening claims, and navigating disputes with confidence. For consultancy services, expert opinion, or arbitration-related matters, inquiries can be submitted through this website.
Basel Al Najjar
Author's posts
Apr 27
As-Built Programme for Delay Claims | SCL Protocol | E-Basel
Claims » Extensions of Time As-Built Programme in Delay Analysis — Foundation of the EOT Claim In a delay claim, the as-built programme is the foundation on which everything else rests. It records what actually happened on the project. Without a credible as-built, the delay analysis floats free of the factual record — and is …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/construction-claims/as-built-programme-for-delay-claims-scl-protocol-e-basel/
Apr 27
Weather Delays & Exceptionally Adverse Conditions | E-Basel
Claims » Extensions of Time Weather Delays — Exceptionally Adverse Conditions Every contractor prices for weather risk, every programme includes weather allowances, and every project is delayed at some point by conditions beyond the contractor’s control. But the contractual entitlement from weather delays is strictly defined — and significantly more limited than many contractors assume. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/construction-claims/weather-delays-exceptionally-adverse-conditions-e-basel/
Apr 27
Contractor Programme Contractual Status Under JCT, FIDIC, NEC | E-Basel
Claims » Extensions of Time Contractor’s Programme — Contractual Status and Obligations The programme is the single most important management document on a construction project. Yet its legal status — what the programme actually obliges the parties to do — is misunderstood by many practitioners. The answer depends entirely on which standard form applies. 4 …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/construction-claims/contractor-programme-contractual-status-under-jct-fidic-nec-e-basel/
Apr 27
Liquidated Damages & Penalty Rule in UAE Construction | E-Basel
Claims » Extensions of Time Liquidated Damages — Genuine Pre-Estimate Requirement Liquidated damages give the employer a simple, certain remedy for late completion — without proving actual loss. But a clause that imposes a sum wildly disproportionate to likely loss may be unenforceable as a penalty. The modern test is not what most practitioners remember …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/construction-claims/liquidated-damages-penalty-rule-in-uae-construction-e-basel/
Apr 27
Sectional Completion & Partial Possession Under JCT & FIDIC | E-Basel
Claims » Extensions of Time Sectional Completion and Partial Possession Large projects rarely complete as a single entity at a single moment. Hospitals hand over ward by ward. Retail developments phase their openings. The legal framework for phased completion has significant implications for LDs, defects liability, and insurance. 4 min read · Updated 21/04/2026 By …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/construction-claims/sectional-completion-partial-possession-under-jct-fidic-e-basel/
Apr 27
Time at Large & Prevention Principle in UAE Construction | E-Basel
Claims » Extensions of Time Time at Large — When the Completion Obligation Is Lost The prevention principle is one of the most powerful doctrines in construction contract law. When time goes at large, the employer loses the right to liquidated damages, the completion date becomes ineffective, and the contractor need only complete within a …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/construction-claims/time-at-large-prevention-principle-in-uae-construction-e-basel/
Apr 27
Programme Float Ownership & Consumption in EOT Claims | E-Basel
Claims » Extensions of Time Float in the Programme — Ownership and Consumption Float is the lifeblood of programme management — the scheduling contingency that absorbs minor delays without affecting completion. It is also a battleground in EOT disputes. Who owns it? Does an employer event that consumes float create an EOT entitlement? 4 min …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/construction-claims/programme-float-ownership-consumptio/
Apr 27
Concurrent Delay Analysis Under English Law | E-Basel
Claims » Extensions of Time Concurrent Delay — Attribution and Entitlement Concurrent delay is the most technically challenging concept in construction delay analysis — and the one most frequently misunderstood or oversimplified. When delays from both parties operate simultaneously, entitlement to time and money is rarely straightforward. 4 min read · Updated 21/04/2026 By Basel …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/construction-claims/concurrent-delay-analysis-under-english-law-e-basel/
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/fidic-clause-20-1-notice-eot-time-bars-e-basel/
Apr 27
Grounds for Extension of Time Under FIDIC & JCT | E-Basel
Claims » Extensions of Time Grounds for Extension of Time — Employer Risk Events The extension of time clause is the central mechanism for allocating delay risk in construction contracts. It determines who bears the financial consequences of project delays — and whether the employer retains the right to deduct liquidated damages. 4 min read …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/construction-claims/grounds-for-extension-of-time-under-fidic-jct-e-basel/