Critical success factors for large-scale construction projects in developing countries: a systematic literature review with emphasis on Iraq and the MENA region

Large-scale construction projects (LSCPs) in developing countries continue to underperform against benchmarks of time, cost, and quality, yet literature addressing the factors driving their success remains fragmented. This study systematically reviews the critical success factors (CSFs) influencing LSCPs in developing countries, with particular emphasis on Iraq and the MENA region. Searches of Scopus and Web of Science, limited to peer-reviewed English-language journal articles published between 2010 and 2026, returned 86 records, of which 79 unique articles were retained after screening and deduplication. Research output accelerated substantially after 2019, peaking at 19 publications in 2023. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management and the Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology account for roughly 30% of the corpus. Institutions from Ghana, Nigeria, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Jordan, and Iraq have emerged as substantive contributors. Thematic synthesis identified 42 distinct CSFs across six categories: project-related factors; organisational and managerial competence; stakeholder and government support; risk and procurement governance; external environment and socio-political stability; and technology, sustainability, and innovation. Adequate resource availability, effective communication, competent project leadership, transparent procurement, and strong governmental support were the five most frequently cited factors. An integrated conceptual framework is proposed, highlighting priorities for future research.