A combined $657 billion worth of projects are still active (not cancelled, completed or on-hold) in the UAE, according to a study.

The research, undertaken by Dubai-based research and analysis think tank Proleads, identified 1,845 active projects in the country.

The study provides an overview of the civil building construction industry within the UAE. It splits the market into four sectors -- Commercial and Retail, Education and Healthcare, Leisure and Entertainment and the Residential sectors.

"Throughout our research in each sector we found a number of common issues," said Emil Rademeyer, director, Proleads. "Over two thirds of projects are still active, new projects starting have slowed and projects completing are accelerating and cash flow is declining."

The largest of these sectors by number of projects as well as by budget is the commercial and civil sector. The total market consists of 829 projects valued at $412 billion, Proleads said.

The residential sector is made up of a combined value of $312 billion. The rate that projects are being cancelled has accelerated over the course of the year although the largest proportion of projects are still in progress, it said.

Projects classified within the leisure and entertainment sector amount to over $233 billion spread across 445 projects, while education and healthcare has almost 700 projects worth $57 billion.

"So although the overall situation looks stable, unless investment for new projects is found, the size of the real estate industry will shrink and its overall shelf- life will be reduced," added Rademeyer.

In terms of projects currently under construction, the report finds Dubai has the larger share of the market - indicative of Abu Dhabi projects having started later than Dubai.

"This view is supported further when looking at the scheduled completion dates with the bulk of the Dubai projects coming to a close during 2010 and 2011 and Abu Dhabi in 2012 and 2013," said Rademeyer. -TradeArabia News Service