The Construction Cost Index (CCI) in Abu Dhabi, UAE reached a level of 103.5 per cent during the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 9.9 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2017, a media report said.

Construction costs also rose during the first quarter of 2018 by 5.6 per cent, compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, reported Emirates news agency Wam, citing  statistics issued by the Statistics Centre-Abu Dhabi (SCAD).

The statistics issued by SCAD show that the workforce category was the most important group in the index, and contributed to the rise in average construction cost during the first quarter of 2018, which increased by 19.9 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of the previous year.

The cost of services included in the list also registered a rise of 15.9 per cent, while the increase in the cost of construction materials reached 9.9 per cent, as well as 3 per cent for mechanical and air conditioning works, and 1.1 per cent for equipment prices.

The cost of goods and services that are covered by the index were gathered from certified sources in Abu Dhabi, which were chosen as they represent the emirate’s building material and construction services market.

The CCI an important statistical indicator for the purposes of planning and research in various disciplines. The selected sample of items included in the Construction Cost Index basket uses actual data collected from the Contractors' Association in Abu Dhabi.

The sample of sources (building materials and construction service providers) were selected in such a way to represent the market condition across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.