by Ramjee Iyer, Chairman and CEO of ACUBE Real Estate Development
The GCC and broader Middle East construction sector is enjoying a period of unprecedented growth that can be compared in grandeur to the economic transformation triggered by the great industrial revolutions of our recent history.
Large-scale infrastructure, mega and giga real estate projects are in the spotlight daily, as the Gulf states move to diversify their economies and sectors away from fossil fuel dependency and replace them with knowledge-based ecosystems that will sustain their growth through the next decade and beyond.
As demand for new infrastructure, residential and commercial real estate continues to rise, sustainability becomes a key challenge at a time when regional governments and populations have become conscious to the environmental impact of construction.
The United Arab Emirates as well as its neighbour Saudi Arabia, are adopting global best practices such as low carbon sustainable construction, employing new modular construction practices as well as 3D printing to partially offset the inherent impact caused by construction on the environment. I touch on the first two practices here since 3D printing technology in the UAE has already made global headlines in 2016 with the world’s first 3D printed office at the Emirates Towers and was subsequently followed by the world’s largest 3D printed house in 2019. 3D printing in construction has been in development since and is being assessed for large scale construction projects in the near future.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Real estate developers are also adopting international standards to make construction and operation of buildings and homes more environmentally friendly by LEED principles across all the phases of design, construction, operation, and maintenance of new projects.
LEED is a building rating system which was developed in 1993 by the non-profit United States Green Building Council to encourage practices in the design and construction of new buildings. It gained international popularity and adoption in many parts of the world which popularised the term ‘Green Building’. Its broad adoption is driven by a combination of practices covering exterior and interior design, engineering, landscaping, architecture, and construction.
Its comprehensive rating system has been expanded to include retail and commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, hotels, warehouses and even data centres.
One of the largest construction projects undertaken in Dubai recently, the site of Expo 2020 Dubai, employed LEED principles. Now known as Expo City, it is home to over 121 LEED certified buildings which serve as commercial offices for local and international companies as well as residential buildings for its tenants. By taking such an approach, Expo City can achieve up to 60 per cent reduction in CO2 emission through well-built, energy and water efficient buildings that will continue to drive adoption of green buildings across the emirate.
This milestone also demonstrates the Government of Dubai’s commitment to achieving its sustainability goals as it continues to attract investors and residents from across the world.
For Dubai developers, our teams of designers, engineers and contractors employ Dubai Municipality Green Building Regulations that went into effect as early as 2016 and similarly provide a comprehensive rating system for all to implement. Our real estate projects adhere to this system to ensure that our approach to sustainability is holistic and encompasses both the construction and the operation of all the buildings we develop.
The primary focus is on:
- Energy efficiency: Buildings must include energy-efficient lighting and appliances, reducing energy consumption and lowering utility costs for residents.
- Water conservation: The installation of water-preserving fixtures to minimize water usage and waste, thus contributing to water conservation.
- Sustainable building materials: The type and usage of various materials in the construction project and the interior fitouts where material categories are chosen based on eco-friendliness and sustainability to reduce the environmental footprint.
- Landscaping: Green area design and use of plants to reduce water wastage while ensuring both health and wellness aspects as well as aesthetic appeal.
Modular Construction
Modular construction is a relatively new concept in this region but has started gaining traction in Dubai which saw the first Modular Construction License awarded last July by Dubai Municipality for a G+6 building, the first of its kind to be built in the UAE.
Modular construction is the process of building separate modules or parts of the building at a different location and then moving them to the construction site to be assembled in a manner that saves time, reduces waste and carbon emission of conventional construction while being highly cost effective.
Modular construction is said to cut building time by up to 50 per cent, since sections of the building can be mass produced in a warehouse and then assembled at the site. A major benefit here is that different parts of the building – lower and higher floors – can be produced simultaneously, saving time and money. This eliminates the complex site management required for contractors and material suppliers, and reduces the emissions produced by the extensive heavy machinery used in conventional construction. Modular construction saves energy while reducing emissions.
Another main benefit of modular building is the elimination of significant waste typically generated by the construction industry. Even excess material can be eliminated since modules are precision-built using Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools that utilise the right amount of building materials required, reducing raw material procurement costs significantly.
While the modular construction industry is just getting started in this region, it will not take long for developers and contractors to adopt this highly sustainable and cost-effective approach to deliver projects faster, cheaper, and greener.
Primed for Adoption
Dubai is particularly primed for adopting greener, more efficient construction innovation as it continues to see rapid growth and strong demand in real estate. The leadership’s forward vision for embracing innovation in every industry will likely make Dubai a pioneer in the adoption of 3D and modular construction to mass produce residential and commercial properties in the very near future.
According to the Dubai Land Department, AED 283 billion in real estate transactions took place in the first half of 2023. When factoring in the city’s population growth of 100,000 new residents between June 2022 and June 2023, it is not hard to anticipate the challenges faced by developers and contractors to meet the increasing demand in the coming years.
This creates an imperative for the industry to adopt sustainable, time-saving and cost-effective construction approaches.