The regional disruptions earlier this year tested Gulf supply chains, challenging the movement of goods and construction materials and raising questions about the ability of infrastructure programmes to maintain momentum.

For the UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, the experience reinforced the importance of the systems that support project delivery, from transport networks and customs procedures to domestic manufacturers and international suppliers.

“The disruption reinforced an important principle: infrastructure resilience is ultimately about the ability of the national system to continue operating under pressure,” says Mohammed Al-Mansoori, undersecretary for infrastructure and transport affairs.

Supply resilience

The ministry worked with ports, customs authorities, transport and rail operators, contractors, suppliers and the private sector to maintain the flow of essential goods and construction materials. It monitored critical materials and project schedules, identified alternative sources and adjusted procurement and delivery arrangements.

The response included movement exemptions and facilitation measures for more than 6,600 lorries, while rail freight operations increased from approximately one journey a week to as many as seven journeys a day. Priority and green corridors were activated, customs procedures facilitated and critical shipments prioritised at ports.

According to Al-Mansoori, these measures contributed to an estimated 25% reduction in transport costs, a 40% improvement in customs clearance times and an increase of approximately 15% in port capacity during the response period.

For infrastructure projects, the ministry worked with local manufacturers and suppliers to identify alternative sources of road and construction materials meeting the required technical specifications and quality standards. This helped reduce reliance on disrupted international supply routes and support ongoing projects.

The experience also highlighted the value of existing coordination mechanisms and partnerships.

“It also reinforced a fundamental principle: resilience means ensuring that critical infrastructure delivery does not depend on a single supplier, a single route or a single mode of transport,” Al-Mansoori says.

The ministry is planning to build on this experience by diversifying suppliers, strengthening domestic manufacturing and improving supply-chain monitoring.

Resilience is increasingly being incorporated into procurement planning. For critical materials and services, the ministry aims to identify risks early, broaden the pool of qualified suppliers and ensure viable alternatives are available.

The approach supports the UAE’s wider industrial objectives, including the national in-country value programme, which seeks to direct a greater share of procurement expenditure into the national economy.

“Our objective is not simply to purchase more locally. It is to help create competitive national supply chains,” Al-Mansoori says.

Domestic suppliers must be able to meet the technical requirements, quality standards and volumes demanded by major infrastructure programmes. Localisation is therefore about developing competitive industrial capabilities while shortening supply chains, improving responsiveness and encouraging investment.

“Localisation is not simply a procurement choice; it is an investment in national capability and long-term resilience,” Al-Mansoori says.

The ministry is also working with contractors to manage pressures from fluctuating material, insurance and transport costs. Its approach combines commercial discipline with early engagement to prevent external pressures from affecting project delivery.

“Our approach is based on early engagement, transparency and disciplined commercial management,” Al-Mansoori says. “Long-term infrastructure delivery depends on strong contractors as much as it depends on strong contracts.”

Contractors remain responsible for normal market and contractual risks, but the ministry seeks to assess exceptional pressures objectively, supported by evidence of their impact on costs and schedules. Realistic planning, early procurement and proactive risk management also help maintain momentum.

“The objective is to strike the right balance between protecting the government’s commercial interests and securing best value for money, while maintaining an efficient, sustainable contracting market capable of continuing to deliver strategic infrastructure projects,” Al-Mansoori says.

Resilience means ensuring that critical infrastructure delivery does not depend on a single supplier, a single route or a single mode of transport

Project delivery

The ministry’s focus on measurable outcomes is reflected in the Emirates Road enhancement project, which involves widening approximately 25 kilometres of Emirates Road from three to five lanes in each direction, alongside major improvements to Interchange No. 7.

The works are expected to increase road capacity by up to 65% and reduce journey times by up to 45%.

The project illustrates the ministry’s emphasis on assessing infrastructure by the benefits it delivers, rather than simply the scale of construction.

“Infrastructure success should be measured by the value it creates – not just by the kilometres we build,” Al-Mansoori says.

That principle is increasingly important as the UAE balances new construction with the long-term costs of operating and maintaining its assets. Decisions made during planning and construction can influence maintenance requirements, operating costs and performance for decades.

For Al-Mansoori, resilience, domestic capability and effective delivery are closely connected. Stronger local supply chains can reduce exposure to external shocks, while closer engagement with contractors can help projects withstand cost pressures. 

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