Most construction professionals (58%) believe that AI can help reduce the workload associated with their two biggest challenges—keeping projects on schedule and managing changes during the project—while 65% believe that AI can streamline their most time-consuming administrative tasks, according to a new survey by PlanRadar, a leading platform for 360° digital documentation, communication, and reporting for construction projects, facilities management, and real estate, as reported by the zawya portal.
Among respondents in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the main barrier to wider adoption of AI is not the fear of job losses, but rather confidence in how AI is applied in daily project workflows and the ease with which teams can adopt it.
In Saudi Arabia, 63% cite the accuracy and reliability of AI recommendations as their main concern, followed by the learning curve or complexity of adoption (33%) and data privacy and security (26%).
In the United Arab Emirates, 59% cite accuracy and reliability as their top concern, followed by the learning curve or complexity, at 29%, while data privacy and security and integration with existing systems are cited by 18%.
According to PlanRadar, construction professionals increasingly view AI as a practical support tool rather than a threat to their jobs.
Based on a survey conducted in January of 1,728 construction professionals in the Middle East and global markets, the results point to a growing gap between the industry’s recognition of the value of AI and the pace of actual investment.
“What construction professionals in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are telling us is clear: the discussion is moving beyond the question of whether or not AI belongs in construction. Both governments have made AI a pillar of their national strategy—Saudi Arabia through Vision 2030 and the SDAIA, and the United Arab Emirates through its AI Strategy 2031,” commented Andrey Belogortsev, Regional Manager for the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia-Pacific at PlanRadar.
“There is certainly ambition when it comes to infrastructure. The most important question is whether it can be reliable, implemented in a practical way, and adopted without issues by project teams under real-world conditions. That is where technology providers and employers need to focus their efforts now,” he said.
Globally, more than half of respondents say they would be more likely to stay at their current organization if it significantly increased its investment in digital tools with AI capabilities, including one in four who say they would be significantly more likely to stay. However, nearly half report that their organizations have no current plans to invest in such tools.
PlanRadar also noted that the survey challenges a common assumption about AI in the construction industry.
Fear of losing one’s job is the least common concern reported globally. Nearly half of respondents spend 11 hours or more per week on administrative tasks, and among those who already use AI-integrated tools, two out of three report saving at least two hours per week, per project, on administrative and coordination work, according to the study.
Keeping projects on schedule and managing changes during the project are the two biggest daily challenges identified by respondents. Fifty-eight percent believe that AI could help reduce the workload associated with their biggest daily challenges, while 65% believe that AI could streamline their most time-consuming administrative tasks, the study added.
“Construction professionals spend more than one workday a week on tasks they believe AI could help reduce or optimize. At the same time, more than half say that greater investment in technology and AI would make them more likely to stay in their jobs,” noted Ibrahim Imam, co-founder and CEO of PlanRadar.
“This takes the discussion beyond productivity. It’s also a matter of talent and retention for construction companies operating under increasing pressure to meet deadlines,” he added.
PlanRadar was developed specifically to address these concerns. The platform brings together 360° digital documentation, communication, and reporting into a single AI-powered platform.
According to the report, more than half of the respondents have already adopted a central digital tool to track changes during the project, and among those who have adopted the tool, four out of five report an improved ability to control costs or protect project margins.
The report also found that more than a third of users reported faster approvals and responses, while users of AI-powered systems reported time savings and fewer delays caused by missed or unclear requests, it added.
