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
Provisional Sums in UAE Construction Contracts | E-Basel
Claims » Variations Provisional Sums — Definition, Expenditure, and Recovery Provisional sums are a familiar feature of construction contracts, yet they are among the most misunderstood. Treating them as guaranteed revenue has consequences — for pricing, for programming, and for final account recovery. 4 min read · Updated 21/04/2026 By Basel Al Najjar Civil Engineering …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/provisional-sums-in-uae-construction-contracts-e-basel/
Apr 27
Omission of Work & Loss of Profit in UAE Construction | E-Basel
Claims » Variations Omission of Contract Work — Limits on Employer’s Right to Omit The right to vary includes the right to omit. That is clear. What is less clear — and frequently disputed — is whether the right is subject to any limit. The answer, established in case law across multiple jurisdictions, is yes. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/omission-of-work-loss-of-profit-in-uae-construction-e-basel/
Apr 27
Variation Valuation Under FIDIC & JCT | Star Rates | E-Basel
Claims » Variations Valuation of Variations — Rates, Star Rates, and Reasonable Cost When a variation is agreed in principle, the next question — often equally contentious — is what it is worth. Variation valuation is not simply measurement and application of contract rates. It requires structured analysis of the pricing mechanism, the character of …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/variation-valuation-under-fidic-jct-star-rates-e-basel/
Apr 27
Verbal Instructions for Variations in UAE Construction | E-Basel
Claims » Variations Verbal Instructions for Variations — The Written Confirmation Requirement Construction sites run on verbal communication. The site manager does not wait for a written instruction, and the subcontractor does not wait either. This is the reality — and it is also the source of a large proportion of variation disputes. 4 min …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/verbal-instructions-for-variations-in-uae-construction-e-basel/
Apr 27
Contractor’s Right | Variations Scope & Limits Under FIDIC & JCT
Claims » Variations Contractor’s Right to Vary the Works — Scope and Limits The variation clause is the employer’s most powerful tool in construction contract management. It is also one of the most frequently abused — and the source of a disproportionate share of UAE construction disputes. 4 min read · Updated 21/04/2026 By Basel …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/contractors-right-variations-scope/
Apr 26
Misrepresentation in UAE Construction Contracts | E-Basel
Contract » Contract Formation Misrepresentation in Construction Contracts Site investigation reports that turn out to be wrong. Planning consents that do not actually exist. Utility records that omit half the services. When pre-contract information is materially false and the contractor relies on it, the basis of the contract may be fundamentally undermined. 5 min read …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/misrepresentation-in-uae-construction-contracts-e-basel/
Apr 26
Priority of Contract Documents in UAE Construction | E-Basel
Contract » Contract Formation Priority of Contract Documents — Resolving Conflicts A construction contract is not a single document but a stack of them — conditions, specification, drawings, bills, programme, addenda. Each prepared at a different time, by a different hand, for a different purpose. When they conflict, which one governs? 4 min read · …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/priority-of-contract-documents-in-ua/
Apr 26
Contract Interpretation in UAE Construction Disputes | E-Basel
Contract » Contract Formation Contract Interpretation — The Objective Approach Contract disputes frequently arise not because obligations are unclear in fact, but because the words chosen to express them are ambiguous, inconsistent, or incomplete. The principles tribunals apply when resolving those ambiguities are settled — and knowing them changes how you draft, negotiate, and argue. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/contract-interpretation-in-uae-const/
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/assignment-novation-of-uae-construction-contracts-e-basel/
Apr 26
Collateral Warranties in UAE Construction Projects | E-Basel
Contract » Contract Formation Collateral Warranties — Third Party Rights in Construction The developer sells the building. The purchaser discovers defects. It has no contract with the contractor and cannot sue under the building contract. Without a collateral warranty, the purchaser may have no remedy at all. 5 min read · Updated 21/04/2026 By Basel …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.e-basel.com/fidic/collateral-warranties-in-uae-constru/