Crane Lift Plans in the UAE: What Goes Into One
What a crane lift plan contains, when a lift counts as critical, who prepares and approves it, and how lift planning differs between Abu Dhabi and Dubai sites.
On most UAE sites, no crane lifts until a lift plan has been written and approved. The plan is how the crane supplier, the main contractor and the client's HSE team agree on what is being lifted, with which crane, from where, by whom and under what conditions. A good plan is short, specific and checked against the real crane. This guide sets out what a lift plan contains, when a lift becomes critical, and what to have ready so approval does not hold up the job.
Routine Lifts and Critical Lifts
Lifts are usually graded by risk. A routine lift is a straightforward lift with a known load, well inside the crane's capacity, in a clear area. A critical lift has a higher consequence if anything goes wrong, and gets a more detailed plan and a more senior sign-off. Exact criteria come from the site's HSE system or the client's standard, and the thresholds differ between them, but lifting standards commonly treat a lift as critical when:
- ✓The load uses a high percentage of the crane's chart capacity at the planned radius
- ✓Two or more cranes share the load (a tandem lift)
- ✓People are lifted in a basket or platform suspended from the crane
- ✓The load passes over live plant, pipework or energised equipment
- ✓The load's weight or centre of gravity is hard to determine, or changes during the lift
What a Lift Plan Contains
The Load
Weight, dimensions, centre of gravity and lifting points, with the source of the weight. Add the rigging: slings, shackles and spreader beams, each with its rated working load limit.
The Crane and Its Configuration
The crane model, counterweight, outrigger extension, boom length and radius, with the relevant extract from the load chart and the percentage of capacity used. If you want to check this part yourself, our guide on reading a crane load chart explains how.
The Ground
The crane's set-up position, the outrigger loads, the mat sizes and the allowable bearing pressure of the ground. Buried services, trenches and recent backfill near the outriggers must be identified. We cover this in detail in outrigger mats and ground bearing pressure.
The Area and the Sequence
A drawing showing the crane position, load path, set-down point, exclusion zone and any obstructions, followed by the lift sequence step by step, including how the load will be controlled with tag lines and how it will be landed and unhooked.
People and Communication
Named roles with their certificates: the person in charge of the lift, the crane operator, the rigger and the banksman or signaller. State how they communicate (radio channel or hand signals) and who can stop the lift.
Stop Conditions
The maximum wind speed for the configuration, taken from the crane's chart, plus any site limits on visibility, heat or time of day. In the UAE, the summer midday work ban and shamal winds both belong in this section. Our guide on running equipment through the summer covers the heat side.
Who Prepares and Who Approves
The crane supplier usually prepares the crane side of the plan, because it knows the machine and its charts. The contractor adds site information such as access, ground data, other trades and permits. The client's HSE team or consultant approves it, often through a permit to work. Some clients, particularly in oil and gas, also require critical lift plans to be reviewed by an approved third party. Ask early which approvals your site needs, because they set the lead time.
Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Client Sites
Abu Dhabi sites generally follow the OSHAD-SF framework, and contractors in ICAD, KIZAD and Khalifa Port expect documented lift plans as standard. Dubai sites follow Dubai Municipality requirements. Some clients apply their own lifting standards and forms on top of these. When the client has its own form, use it: it is the one the approver will check against.
Documents to Have Ready
- ✓Third-party inspection certificate for the crane and the rigging gear
- ✓Operator, rigger and banksman certificates
- ✓Load chart extract for the planned configuration
- ✓Site drawing with crane position and exclusion zone
- ✓Ground bearing information or a ground assessment
- ✓Permit to work and any gate pass or induction records
Seven Lift's lift planner prepares the method statement, lift plan and risk assessment for crane jobs and sends them to your HSE team before mobilization, with critical lift plans for heavy and complex work. See 200 ton crane rental and 500 ton crane rental for the lifts that usually need them, or our earlier guide to crane safety rules in Abu Dhabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who writes the lift plan when I hire a crane?+
Usually the crane supplier writes the crane side, with site information from the contractor, and the client's HSE team or consultant approves it. At Seven Lift, our lift planner prepares the lift plan and sends it for approval before the crane mobilizes.
When is a crane lift considered critical?+
Each site's HSE system sets the criteria, but common triggers are a high percentage of chart capacity, tandem lifts, lifting over occupied areas or live plant, lifting people, and loads of uncertain weight. A critical lift gets a more detailed plan and a more senior sign-off.
How long does a lift plan take to prepare?+
It depends on the lift. Critical lifts take longer than routine ones because they can need a site survey, ground data and third-party review, so give us the lift date when you ask for a quote and allow time for approvals.
Related Pages
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