THE YEMEN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: READYING THE INDUSTRY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABILITY

The construction industry in the developing economy of Yemen is plagued by severe problems that permeate most aspects of the industry from initial feasibility and design through to cost management and construction. Considerable capital and time is wasted within the construction process with a direct flow-on effect for the national economy. Further, the expected life-span of constructed facilities in Yemen is relatively short – buildings often being redeveloped or requiring demolition due to poor design, questionable construction practices, or inappropriate material selection within few years. Despite the magnitude of the problems in the Yemen construction industry, virtually no research has been undertaken, and little data exists on the extent of the problem. This paper outlines the Yemen construction industry, primarily to determine the extent and severity of the industry problems. The paper proposes to identify the processes and recommendations required for implementation to move the Yemen construction industry from its current state of disarray to an industry ready for the successful implementation of sustainability practices. As the construction industry in the developing nation of Yemen is similar in many ways to other developing economies, it is expected that the findings of this research will be of interest to professionals involved in the construction industries of other countries. The results of the study ought to be transferable to the construction industries of other developing nations