Top 10 GCC green building projects

Demand for more environmentally-friendly buildings and construction materials has increased dramatically over the past decade, with major companies, universities and research institutions taking on the responsibility to build a greener future in the region backed by tough legislation

We take a look at 10 of the finest sustainable buildings in the GCC.

1- King Abdullah Financial District. Tadawul Tower 40-storey tower totaling 140,000 square meters plus a three-storey car park. Designed to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating Started 2010 and is expected to be completed by Q4, 2015
2. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) A new international graduate-level research university with a 12m sqm desert campus located in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. Designed and built by developer Hellmuth Obata Kassabaum, Dubai (HOK) in less than three years, completed in 2009. To date, KAUST is the world’s largest LEED NC-Platinum project.
3-Dubai Smart Sustainable City, Dubai The 14,000 hectare city, shaped like a desert flower, has 20,000 plots for UAE national citizens. The roofs of the homes and buildings will be covered with solar panels, which will provide 200mw of electricity. The city will also recycle over 40,000 cubic meters of waste water. The city will produce 50 percent of its own energy expected to be completed in 2020.
4-DEWA’s Sustainable Building, Dubai The largest government building in the world to secure a LEED Platinum rating for green buildings. Green features help the building reduce consumption of energy by 66% and water by 48%. In addition, 36% of construction material used was recycled content. It achieved 98 out of 110 points.
5- Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi The center extends over an area of nearly 7,000 sqm of buildings, in addition to green spaces and parking lots. The hospital is aiming for a Two Pearl rating under the Estidama guidelines for sustainable design, which is equivalent to a LEED Gold certification. Project completion and delivery of the facility to Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) for launch and operation is expected in the second quarter of 2016.
6- Msheireb, Doha The world’s largest collection of LEED certified buildings. The 31-hectare Msheireb town will be a showcase of the latest and greatest green design elements while incorporating traditional Arabian architecture. The new town will include retail space, hotels and apartments. The entire project set to finish in 2016 at a total cost of US$ 5.5 billion.
7-The Qatar City Education Convention Center, Doha The project approximately spans across an area of 185,806 square meters and costs $720 million. The convention center’s roof has been specially designed to incorporate over 353 square meters of solar panels. The panels will be responsible for providing approximately 12.5 percent of the structure’s energy.
8- Siemens Headquarters, Abu Dhabi inaugurated its “showcase” Middle East headquarters in Masdar City, which is Abu Dhabi’s first LEED Platinum building. The building occupies 18,000 square meters and reduces energy consumption by almost 50% compared to conventional buildings of the same size. Opened in Q1 2014 and houses 800 employees
9. Designed by Zaha Hadid, Bee’ah’s new headquarters addresses environmental solutions in terms of structure, work environment and visitor–staff interactivity with its innovative design. Fully powered by renewable energy, the 7,000 square metre building is expected to be completed by 2018.
10. The headquarters of Pacific Controls is the first Platinum rated green building in the Middle East and 16th in the world. Located in Dubai Technopark, the building features solar thermal air-conditioning, photovoltaic cells for lighting, water-efficient equipment and captive water treatment plant.

Because of the enormous opportunities in the region for suppliers of energy saving and green products, including lighting, kitchen and bathroom fittings and natural stone fittings, GCC governments have greatly intensified their support towards greener construction.

A 2014 report by Ventures Middle East commissioned by The Big 5 construction exhibition in Dubai said that "Green buildings witnessed a slow take off in the GCC," but governments have acted swiftly in the past three years to embrace sustainability through education and legislation. Developers have also recognised that buildings have to demonstrate sustainability to be marketable.

In the UAE, through organisations such as Estidama in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Electricity &Water Authority (Dewa) in Dubai, the country has rolled out the agenda to improve energy efficiency in the construction sector.

Green ratings systems have also been introduced in all GCC countries from the American LEED system to the UK's BREEAM which are now used by many developers and each country is adopting its own standards.

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