Sustainable building construction expected to increase in Middle East in 2013

The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Credit: Rahhal / Shutterstock.comThe Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Credit: Rahhal / Shutterstock.com

Construction companies in the Middle East are beginning to think about sustainability and green construction concepts in relation to their profitability, The Daily Star reported.

Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates—the three countries with the largest per capita ecological footprints in the world—have plans for major developments, and experts predict $4.3 trillion worth of construction projects in the Middle East and North Africa, also known as the MENA region. As these projects begin in 2013, industry professionals will likely look for ways to make the designs sustainable.

Contractors in the MENA region are beginning to focus more on sustainability now because of regulations and the opportunity to increase the value and ensure the longevity of their assets.

One way contractors are looking to make sustainability happen is trying to turn sustainable designs into sustainable buildings. A major reason the MENA region hasn’t seen much of this yet is a lack of quality control in construction or flat-out poor commissioning.

However, more contractors are expected to use commissioning agents in coming years throughout the design and construction processes to ensure a better likelihood of sustainability from the start.