Date of Publication :22nd October 2021

Abstract: This study was conducted to know the performance of the construction industry of Bahrain in terms of information available from related studies. Specifically, it aimed to identify the market value of the construction industry in the kingdom of Bahrain, know the causes of delays of projects based on available research on the internet, determine the effect of COVID 19 pandemic in the construction industry. Results showed that the construction industry is performing well from 2014 to 2018 that is before the pandemic. The construction sector of Bahrain is the fastest growing non-oil sector which contributes the significant development of the country. It has increased rate of growth in terms of market value between 2014 to 2018. It further showed that the construction is the top employer for expatriates reported as highest number of work permits – 13,073 or 33% of the total – issued in the second quarter of 2018, the most recent statistics available. On the other hand, project delays affected the performance of the project which is related to contractor, owner, consultant, services and utilities, government regulations, and external environment. The effects of delays were identified as time and cost overrun, disputes, arbitration, litigation, breach of contract, total abandonment, delay to other projects, obstruction of economical and urban development, disruption of traffic movement, and discredit to the Ministry of works. In the explosion of COVID 19 pandemic last year 2020, the construction activities in Bahrain are affected as the budget government is shifted towards the fight of COVID 19. Evidence showed that there is decline in numbers of contracts awarded between 2019 and 2020 and that the construction sector recorded to have a reduction rate in GDP growth. It clearly manifests how pandemic affects the construction activities in the Kingdom causing number of projects to be delayed as budgets are being shifted to health services.

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