Today's Edition
YOUSEF AL ARABI (ABU DHABI)
The UAE ranks among the world’s leading countries in sustainable real estate development and environmental and climate action. The nation has played a prominent role in supporting international efforts to address energy challenges and climate change, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, according to experts and officials in the sector.
The UAE has witnessed the construction of many sustainable projects in recent years, ranking first regionally and 14th globally in sustainable buildings, according to a survey conducted by Knight Frank, a real estate consultancy.
In remarks to Aletihad, the experts noted that real estate developers in the UAE are racing to adopt the latest digital transformation technologies, which are considered fundamental pillars to enhance sustainability in the construction sector. These technologies also contribute to improving efficiency and reducing emissions in both the design and operation of buildings. Digital models and data analysis help in predicting the impact of design on energy consumption and carbon emissions, enabling developers to make necessary adjustments.
Accelerated Plan
Ali Hussain Sajwani, Managing Director of Operations and Technology at DAMAC Properties, highlighted the UAE’s leadership in sustainable real estate development. He pointed out that this sector, which is taking rapid steps towards supporting environmental protection efforts, is reducing emissions resulting from construction activities and associated operational processes.
Sajwani said that DAMAC is actively adopting more sustainable environmental practices and focusing on enhancing the energy consumption efficiency in various residential communities, which bolsters the real estate sector’s role in reducing carbon emissions.
“Sustainability is a major part of DAMAC’s operations; we plan for the future and develop our projects with a sustainable vision,” he added. He cited a DAMAC project under development in the Maldives, a luxury resort comprising a collection of villas designed to the highest sustainability standards. The resort will rely 100% on solar energy during the day and 80% at night. Rainwater will be used for irrigation purposes, and water heating in the resort will depend on environmentally friendly solar energy.
Additionally, the largest possible amount of agriculture will be used in the resort’s gardening and landscape design, and 80% of waste will be converted into fertilisers used on-site.
In Dubai, the DAMAC Lagoons community is set to become one of the first projects to receive the LEED Gold Certification, and it is targeted to be among the first major communities in the UAE to achieve this prestigious classification under the LEED cities and communities rating system. The project aims to achieve integration between green and sustainable features at every stage, from the initial design to construction and future operation, he continued.
Sajwani said that sustainable initiatives in the real estate sector support innovation and encourage the development of new technologies and industries with a positive economic impact, which can contribute to creating new job opportunities, in addition to enhancing economic growth. Investing in renewable energy and sustainability technologies contributes to providing renewable sources of energy and raw materials, reducing the economy’s reliance on non-renewable natural resources, Sajawani said. He explained that although implementing sustainable initiatives requires initial investments, they can reduce long-term costs due to resource savings and reduced environmental risks.
On the corporate and institutional level, implementing sustainable initiatives can contribute to improving the reputation of companies and organisations and increase their level of social responsibility.
Technology and AI in the Construction Sector
Technology and artificial intelligence (AI) play an important role in reducing the carbon footprint in the construction sector by improving the efficiency of use of materials and energy and developing design and construction processes, Sajwani said. ‘’In terms of design, artificial intelligence can be used to improve the design of buildings, based on digital models and data analysis, which helps predict the impact of the design on energy consumption and carbon emissions, thus enabling developers to make the necessary adjustments,’’ he added.
Smart Construction Management
Sajwani explained that technology can be used to improve construction project management and increase efficiency. “This is done using project management systems, real-time tracking, and automated routing of equipment and workers,” he said, adding that technology can be used to build smart infrastructure that allows efficient energy and water use. This includes the use of smart lighting, heating and cooling systems and water management systems.
The real estate sector is one of the main sectors in the UAE, and it is one of the sectors that supports the country’s efforts to protect the environment, by reducing emissions resulting from construction work and the operational processes accompanying it, he said.
“DAMAC is active in adopting more sustainable environmental practices and is also focusing on enhancing the efficiency of energy consumption management in various residential communities, which enhances the role of the real estate sector in reducing carbon emissions. In recent years, the UAE has witnessed the construction of many sustainable projects, ranking first regionally and 14th globally in sustainable buildings,’’ he added.
Innovative Solutions
Ibrahim Imam, Co-CEO & Co-Founder at PlanRadar, said the UAE is considered one of the leading countries globally in the field of sustainability in the real estate sector. He added that in recent years, the UAE government has launched many strategies and initiatives and implemented numerous projects to enhance environmental sustainability in various fields, which is reflected in the hosting the of 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).
Among those initiatives and projects are the Green Agenda 2030 and the Energy Strategy 2050, which are concerned with preserving natural resources and providing energy from renewable energy projects, such as solar energy projects, in addition to developing sustainable cities.
“It is expected that we will witness more strategies and innovative solutions for the transition towards sustainability, which enhances the UAE’s position as a leading country in sustainable development globally. In the context of striving for a more sustainable future, it is observed that the construction and building industry is making significant progress in adopting sustainable building practices,” he said.
Technology and digital transformation are fundamental pillars for enhancing sustainability in the construction and building sector, Imam added.
“While the COP28 is underway, one of our main goals is to improve resource use efficiency effectively through construction management programmes. This approach helps to streamline processes and reduce waste generated from construction activities, in addition to improving material use, leading to cost savings and reducing the environmental footprint of the construction sector,” he noted.
The use of digital technologies has a positive impact on the construction industry and the economy in general, contributing to sustainability, Imam continued. Among these digital solutions are construction management software like PlanRadar, which helps to improve the efficiency of construction operations, reduce costs, as well as efficient resource use, waste reduction, and minimising waste, thus reducing the environmental impact of construction projects and improving their economic feasibility.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) are effective ways to reduce the environmental impact of construction activities. These digital solutions allow for better resource management, waste reduction, and improved energy efficiency throughout construction operations.
“By adopting a technology-based approach in urban planning and expansion, we can enhance sustainability in the construction and building sector, reduce its environmental footprint, and preserve our resources for future generations,” he added. Avin Gidwani, CEO of BNC Network, for construction and building research, told Aletihad that the UAE is at the forefront of sustainability initiatives in the region and is steadily moving towards achieving net-zero carbon goals by 2025. Based on the tremendous and tangible progress in sustainability, it is expected that the state will implement many ambitious projects to reduce carbon.
In this context, hosting COP28 is of strategic importance as it highlights the UAE’s achievements globally, Gidwani said.
“As a digital company, we have a relatively small carbon footprint, and our smart business products contribute to sustainability by significantly reducing business trips by thousands of executives, providing much of the information they need digitally or through smartphones whenever they need it. To contribute further to sustainability, we are launching a programme to plant a tree for every new user of the platform, and through this initiative, we hope to offset the impact we cause from activities like travel and utilities,” Gidwani noted.
