The International Code Council (ICC) looks at how the construction landscape in the GCC is changing, especially with smarter materials, cooling, and policy changes. 

Behind the GCC's towering structures and landmark megaprojects lies a critical question: how can the region build in a way that is not only transformative but also sustainable?

As urbanisation intensifies, construction is under mounting pressure to evolve. Sustainability is no longer optional, it is essential. The choices made today will shape the resilience and livability of tomorrow’s cities.

To meet this challenge, governments and developers across the region are actively rethinking how buildings are designed, constructed and operated.

From low-carbon materials to pioneering technologies and updated regulations, the GCC is making bold moves to create a greener built environment.

A major focus is on improving energy efficiency, particularly through smarter cooling.

In a region where air conditioning can account for up to 70% of a building’s energy use, upgrading HVAC systems is both an environmental and financial imperative.

This has spurred the adoption of passive cooling techniques, better insulation, and demand-driven systems powered by renewables, enabling climate control with a lighter carbon footprint.

Green materials

The materials used in construction are also undergoing a transformation.

Concrete, long the backbone of GCC development, is now being refined with low-carbon alternatives and advanced admixtures to reduce emissions without compromising strength or durability.

This shift is being accelerated through regional standardisation and innovation in cement technology.

In parallel, the GCC, particularly the UAE, is leading a global push toward 3D-printed buildings.

These structures reduce material waste, speed up project timelines, and allow for complex, custom designs. They represent a fundamental reimagining of how construction can be more efficient, scalable and sustainable.

Underpinning these efforts are national climate policies like the UAE Net Zero 2050 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Green Initiative.

These frameworks are driving practical action, not just policy statements, supported by updated building codes and new training pathways for professionals.

Programmes from bodies such as the International Code Council (ICC) are equipping the workforce with the skills needed to meet increasingly ambitious environmental standards.

The GCC’s approach to sustainable construction is comprehensive: it combines innovation, policy, and people. In doing so, the region is not just keeping pace with global trends, it is setting new ones.

Through its commitment to smarter, cleaner, and more responsible building, the GCC is demonstrating that environmental stewardship and architectural progress can, and must, go hand in hand.

Also read: ICC to showcase global building safety standards in Egypt

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the world’s largest producer of premium aluminium, has commenced production at its expanded Spectro Alloys aluminium recycling facility in Minnesota, USA.

The first phase of the expansion adds 55,000 tonnes of secondary billet production capacity, with full ramp-up expected by the first quarter of 2026. Once fully operational, the site will produce 165,000 tonnes of recycled aluminium billets and ingots annually.

The output from the expanded facility will be marketed under EGA’s RevivAL brand, which represents the company’s portfolio of recycled aluminium products. With this development, EGA’s total global recycling capacity now stands at 195,000 tonnes per year, combining operations in the US and Germany.

EGA is also constructing the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling plant at Al Taweelah. Set to produce 170,000 tonnes of billets annually, the facility is on track to begin operations in the first half of 2026, reinforcing EGA’s commitment to advancing sustainable aluminium production across its global network.

Addressing the global supply chain gap

Demand for recycled aluminium in the United States is projected to reach approximately 7.6 million tonnes annually by 2033, according to independent analysts at CRU. As the second largest market for recycled aluminium globally, the US plays a significant role in the transition toward more sustainable materials.

Aluminium recycling consumes up to 95% less electricity compared to primary production, resulting in dramatically lower greenhouse gas emissions. To meet growing domestic demand, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) is advancing plans to establish the first new primary aluminium smelter in the US since 1980. The proposed facility, to be located in Oklahoma, is expected to produce 600,000 tonnes of aluminium per year, nearly doubling the country’s current output.

At present, around 85% of aluminium used by US industries such as automotive, aerospace and construction is imported. EGA’s planned investment aims to address this gap by strengthening domestic supply chains. In 2024, EGA also expanded its recycling footprint in the US with the acquisition of an 80% stake in EGA Spectro Alloys.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, “Reaching first hot metal at the expansion of EGA Spectro Alloys is another milestone in our drive to build a global aluminium recycling business to meet growing demand for this low carbon metal. It is also a milestone in EGA’s growth in the United States, already one of our most important markets and where we are progressing our plans to build a primary aluminium production plant in Oklahoma.”

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Siemens Smart Infrastructure has partnered with Microsoft to enhance access to building IoT data through greater interoperability between Siemens’ digital building platform, Building X, and Microsoft’s Azure IoT Operations, powered by Azure Arc.

This collaboration aims to simplify how organisations connect, manage, and analyse data from various building systems such as HVAC, valves, and actuators, enabling faster onboarding and improved operational insights.

By combining Building X with Microsoft’s adaptive cloud framework, large enterprises across sectors like commercial real estate, data centres, and education can now tap into real-time data such as temperature, pressure, and indoor air quality directly in the cloud.

This paves the way for in-house applications like energy monitoring and space utilisation, supporting more efficient and sustainable building management.

Advancing digitalisation

The integration is built on open standards like the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web of Things (WoT) and the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA), ensuring interoperability and flexibility beyond proprietary ecosystems. Customers benefit from a simplified, vendor-neutral IoT architecture, reinforcing a shared commitment to openness, accessibility, and data security.

Expected to launch in the second half of 2025, the solution is one of the first to offer cross-provider IoT data integration based purely on open standards. It is part of Siemens Xcelerator, Siemens’ open digital platform designed to accelerate digital transformation in the built environment.

“This collaboration with Microsoft reflects our shared vision of enabling customers to harness the full potential of IoT through open standards and interoperability,” said Susanne Seitz, CEO, Siemens Smart Infrastructure Buildings. “The improved data access will provide portfolio managers with granular visibility into critical metrics such as energy efficiency and consumption. With IoT data often being siloed, this level of transparency is a game-changer for an industry seeking to optimise building operations and meet sustainability targets.”

“Siemens shares Microsoft’s focus on interoperability and open IoT standards. This collaboration is a significant step forward in making IoT data more actionable,” said Erich Barnstedt, senior director & architect, Corporate Standards Group, Microsoft. “Microsoft’s strategy underscores our commitment to partnering with industry leaders to empower customers with greater choice and control over their IoT solutions.”

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