Identifying critical success factors for construction projects in Saudi Arabia

The construction projects of process industry plants are complex due to the involvement of numerous stakeholders and uncertainty in environmental factors. The internal and external factors affecting the successful execution of the projects vary across industries and countries. It is vital to identify the critical factors for a geographic region and devise the appropriate strategies for the successful execution of the projects. This study aims to identify the critical success factors for construction projects in Saudi Arabia. To achieve the objective, data collected through questionnaire surveys from 342 project managers, directors, engineers, staff, and construction directors were analyzed in SPSS. The findings showed that construction industry projects in Saudi Arabia are usually constrained by five major factors including the project manager’s qualification and experience, project management practices, timely availability of skilled manpower and equipment, clarity of project definition and scope, and weather conditions, The findings imply that Saudi construction firms need to recruit professionally qualified project managers, establish project management office (PMO), revisit supply chain strategies, and provide alternate working hours during tough weather conditions. Further implications, recommendations, and future research directions are discussed in the end.