Penta Global report highlights mental health gaps in UAE construction sector

Penta Global, a UAE-based engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, has unveiled a landmark report on mental health in the country’s construction industry, calling for unified action to safeguard worker wellbeing as the sector continues to expand.

The report, Mind Matters in Construction: The State of Mental Health and Wellbeing in the UAE, launched at ADIPEC 2025, reveals widespread challenges faced by the nation’s 1.8 million construction workers—many of them expatriates—who often grapple with stress, anxiety and depression linked to long hours, harsh conditions, and separation from family.

According to the study, untreated mental illness costs the GCC an estimated $3.5 billion annually in lost productivity. Workers clocking over eight hours a day were found to be nearly three times more likely to report depression. Yet stigma, fear of job loss, and language barriers prevent many from seeking help.

Penta Global’s Executive Director, Sujay Nair, urged the industry to “come together and make the change” by embedding mental health into corporate culture. “There’s growing recognition of employee wellness as a strategic priority,” he said. “But progress must be shared and sustained across all levels of the industry.”

The report commends government-led initiatives such as the UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, the 2024 Mental Health Law, and the Dubai Health Authority’s “Mental Wealth Framework,” but notes that smaller contractors often lack resources to implement such programs.

Penta Global proposes three actions for progress: improve data transparency, strengthen industry collaboration, and prioritize prevention over reaction.

At ADIPEC, the company also launched its “Punch with Purpose” campaign — donating $1 to mental health charities for every punch taken at its exhibition stand.