Construction Claims Consultant
Construction Claims Consultant for the UAE Construction Industry
EOT, prolongation, disruption, variation and quantum claims — built on contractual entitlement, supported by programme logic, written to survive arbitration scrutiny.
DIAC Arbitrator · Tribunal Chairman · Accredited Expert Witness · FIDIC Red / Yellow / Silver / Gold · UAE Federal Arbitration Law No. 6 of 2018
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Download the FIDIC Clause 20.1 Notice Template Pack
Live claim, time bar approaching, and your team needs evidence — fast.
Most UAE construction disputes are won or lost in the first 28 days. By the time the formal claim is submitted, the contractor has either built the entitlement in real time — with notice, records, and programme impact — or they haven’t, and the claim is exposed before it ever reaches the Engineer.
The 28-day notice under FIDIC Clause 20.1 is a condition precedent. Miss it, and the contractual remedy may be time-barred regardless of the merits of the claim. What you do in the first three weeks — in terms of notice, records audit, and programme analysis — determines whether the claim will succeed or fail.
That is what we build. From notice through to substantiated claim narrative.
What’s Included in a Claims Engagement
The scope varies by matter, but the core deliverables are: a substantiated claim narrative, cause-and-effect analysis, time and cost relief calculations, and a compliance audit of notice requirements.
Substantiated Claim Narrative
Full claim document with cause-and-effect analysis, contractual basis, programme impact and quantum, structured for direct submission to the Engineer or DAB.
Cause-and-Effect Analysis
Forensic linkage of each delay event to the contractual remedy, with supporting records and as-built evidence.
EOT and Prolongation Cost Calculation
Time-related and money-related relief calculated separately, with Hudson formula or actual-cost methodology as appropriate.
Notice Compliance Audit
Review of every notice issued or required under FIDIC Clause 20.1, with risk register of time-barred entitlements.
Why UAE construction teams choose E-Basel
Engineer, not just lawyerWe are civil engineers first. Our claims, delay analyses and expert reports stand up in arbitration because they are built on programme logic and site reality — not legal abstraction. Law firms instruct us; contractors trust us. |
UAE-specific, bilingualEvery matter is grounded in FIDIC, UAE Federal Civil Code, and the practice of DIAC, ADCCAC, DIFC-LCIA and the onshore courts. Submissions, reports and pleadings delivered in English, Arabic, or both — without translation drift. |
Accredited and independentBasel Al Najjar sits as DIAC Arbitrator, Tribunal Chairman and Independent Expert on high-value, multi-party disputes. Instruction comes with the independence and objectivity tribunals expect from an accredited expert. |
From first call to substantiated submission
A fixed or capped fee structure. A clear engagement scope. An outcome you can depend on.
- 1
Case Assessment (30 minutes, no fee)
We scope the contractual basis, the available records, the time-bar exposure, and the realistic relief. This call determines whether we proceed, on what terms, and what the engagement will cost.
- 2
Engagement and Records Review
Engagement letter with fixed or capped fee. We then audit the records, programmes, correspondence and notices in scope — and flag any gaps.
- 3
Entitlement and Quantum Analysis
Contractual entitlement first, cause-and-effect second, quantum third — every claim, in that order. Programme impact assessed. Relief quantified.
- 4
Submission and Defence
Final claim narrative with annexures, ready for submission. We support through Engineer’s determination, DAB referral and arbitration if required.
Representative matters
A selection of matters handled, anonymised to protect client confidentiality. For verified references, request the credentials pack.
High-Rise EOT and Prolongation
Role: Claims consultant to main contractor
Contract: FIDIC Red Book 1999 with bespoke amendments
Issue: Significant critical-path delay to structural steel fabrication arising from late employer-issued drawings under Clause 1.9.
Outcome: Substantiated EOT and prolongation submission; matter resolved at negotiation stage.
Concurrent Delay — Mixed-Use Development
Role: Independent expert on delay
Contract: FIDIC Yellow Book 2017
Issue: Competing contractor and employer delay events on the critical path; concurrent delay analysis under SCL Protocol principles.
Outcome: Expert report delivered; apportioned liability accepted by tribunal.
EPC Variation and Quantum — Hospitality
Role: Quantum expert
Contract: FIDIC Silver Book 1999
Issue: Valuation of multiple variations under Clause 13 — scope, pricing mechanism and reasonable cost.
Outcome: Independent quantum report; variation entitlement substantiated.
Credentials that stand up in a tribunal
 |
Eng. Mohamad Basel Al NajjarCivil Engineering Consultant · DIAC Arbitrator · Tribunal Chairman · Accredited Expert Witness |
Accreditations: DIAC Arbitrator · Chartered Arbitrator · Accredited Expert Witness
Experience: Over two decades in UAE construction. Served as Arbitrator, Tribunal Chairman and Independent Expert on high-value, multi-party disputes.
Standards applied: FIDIC 1999 & 2017 editions · SCL Delay & Disruption Protocol · AACE International RP 29R-03 · UAE Federal Arbitration Law No. 6 of 2018 · UAE Federal Civil Transactions Law
Sectors: High-rise residential and mixed-use · Hospitality · Commercial fit-out · Infrastructure · EPC oil & gas interfaces · Authority-facing works (Trakhees, DM, DDA, DEWA)
E-Basel maintains the independence and objectivity required of an independent expert. We accept instruction from any party — contractor, employer, or counsel — and our opinions are owed first to the tribunal.
Notice deadline approaching?
Most UAE construction disputes turn on the 28-day notice under FIDIC Clause 20.1. If you are within 14 days of an event, the case assessment call is the most valuable hour of your week.
Common questions
What is your fee structure for a claims engagement?
We offer fixed fee, capped fee, or hourly engagements depending on scope. Most claim narratives are quoted as a fixed fee against an agreed scope of work, set out in the engagement letter before any work commences.
Do you only act for contractors?
No. We accept instruction from contractors, employers, developers, subcontractors and law firms. The independence and objectivity required of an accredited expert means we apply the same standard regardless of who instructs us.
Can you act if our matter is already in arbitration?
Yes. We are frequently instructed mid-arbitration as expert witness on delay, quantum or technical issues. We can also support counsel in the preparation of pleadings and the testing of opposing expert evidence.
What is the difference between an EOT claim and a prolongation cost claim?
An EOT claim is time-only relief — extension to the date for completion. A prolongation cost claim is money-only relief — recovery of the time-related costs incurred during the extended period. They are separate entitlements and must be substantiated separately.
Do you handle Arabic-language submissions?
Yes. We deliver claim narratives, reports and pleadings in English, Arabic, or both. Our Arabic submissions are drafted in legal Arabic, not machine-translated, and align with the practice of DIAC, ADCCAC and the onshore courts.
Live claim, defending one, or planning ahead?
Whether the matter is two weeks old or two years in arbitration, the same principle applies: get the analysis right, get the entitlement built, and get the submission to the standard a tribunal expects.
Book a 30-Minute Case Assessment →
Offices in Dubai · Available for instructions across the UAE and GCC
Other E-Basel services
FIDIC Expert Witness Dubai ·
Delay Analysis Expert UAE ·
Construction Arbitrator UAE