Cafe De Palma Case Study

Construction Recovery & Project Management Success

Cafe De Palma Case Study

Cafe De Palma at Palm Jumeirah faced serious construction challenges after the client selected a lower-cost contractor instead of a more qualified service provider.

As a result, the project suffered from BOQ discrepancies, design misalignment, substandard work, delays, variations and rising costs.

UPM Project Management was then engaged to assess the project, restore control and create a structured recovery plan.

In addition, UPM reviewed the existing project information to identify the most urgent technical and commercial issues.

The Challenge

Unqualified Contractor

The selected contractor did not have the required capability to deliver the project to the expected standard.

BOQ Discrepancies

The BOQ contained gaps and inconsistencies, creating confusion, disruptions, and cost uncertainty.

Design Misalignment

The actual site work did not properly align with the approved design, causing delays and rework.

UPM’s Approach

STEP 1

Thorough Evaluation

UPM reviewed the project status, contractor performance, BOQ gaps, site progress, design alignment, and key risks affecting delivery.

STEP 2

Revising BOQ

The BOQ was reviewed and revised to create clearer scope alignment, better cost control, and improved understanding between all project parties.

STEP 3

Qualified Service Providers

UPM supported the engagement of qualified service providers who were more capable of delivering the required standards and correcting the project direction.

STEP 4

Project Restart

The project was reorganized and restarted with a clearer execution strategy, better coordination, and improved control over time, quality, and cost.

Key Results

Cost Saving

1 %

Time Recovery

1 %

Quality Improvement

1 %

Project Impact

Cafe De Palma demonstrates that successful fit-out delivery depends on more than selecting the lowest price. Without qualified contractors, a clear BOQ, and proper construction management, projects can quickly suffer from delays, rework, variations, penalties, and quality issues.

UPM’s role was to restore control, improve technical clarity, and support the project with a structured construction recovery process. The result was better cost control, stronger time management, and improved work quality.

The project demonstrates UPM’s ability to restore confidence, improve coordination between stakeholders, and successfully guide projects back on track through structured project management practices.

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