Critical Success Factors in Delivering PPP-Based Power Infrastructure Projects: Insights from the UAE Energy Sector

Abstract

The research paper explores the effectiveness of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the implementation of power infrastructure projects in Abu Dhabi, which is appealing to the Abu Dhabi vision 2021 in terms of achieving sustainable energy and economic diversification. The study takes on a qualitative constructivist position to investigate the perceptions and lived experiences of stakeholders to solve the most important challenges in the area of funding, stakeholder coordination, regulatory framework, and technology integration. The study will adopt purposive sampling through use of participants of 25-30 stakeholders, comprising of policymakers, employees of the private sector and community members through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. Thematic analysis based on a framework provided by Braun and Clarke (2006) facilitates recognition of the operational issues and opportunities that are peculiar to the socio-cultural and economic environment in Abu Dhabi. The study bridges the gap in the largely positivist literature contributing exclusively to the qualitative understanding of data governance and culture dynamics, which are hardly considered in the context of costs and efficiency. The results should report on funding instabilities, partnership mistakes and regulatory anomalies as major obstacles and an opportunity to utilize AI-driven solution and local expertise. The results of the study are directed to providing the agile policy frameworks to the sustainable energy objectives of the Abu Dhabi community and a transferable model to the Gulf Cooperation Council regarding the carbon zero achievement via the PPPs.