The MoU was signed in Dubai. (Image source: EmiratesGBC)

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) has partnered with Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region (CNRE). 

CNRE is a a public-private initiative backed by the Dutch Government and its network of knowledge institutes, tech firms, and solution providers, to advance environmental sustainability in the region.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed recently in Dubai, aims to harness the strengths of both organisations to promote best practices such as Near Zero and Net Zero buildings and communities, resilient built environments for both new developments and retrofits, and collaborative research and education in sustainable construction.

The MoU signing featured a welcome note by Habiba Al Marashi, co-founder of EmiratesGBC; opening remarks from H.E. Dr. Carel Richter, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dubai and the Northern Emirates; and an introduction by CNRE Chairman Andre Vreman.

A roundtable titled “Towards Climate Neutral Real Estate in the UAE – Opportunities and Challenges,” moderated by EmiratesGBC CEO Abdullatif AlBitawi, underscored the pressing need for sustainability-focused action in the built environment.

Through this partnership, EmiratesGBC and CNRE will co-host educational events on green building, aiming to promote climate-neutral real estate solutions in energy and water use, enhance asset value, and support the growth of green finance.

Habiba Al Marashi, co-founder, vice chair, and treasurer of the Emirates Green Building Council, said, “Collaboration is key to driving collective action across industries to achieve a sustainable future for all. At Emirates Green Building Council, we are deeply committed to advocacy to ensure we provide the right platform to drive change, and we are thrilled to partner with Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region (CNRE) in their mission to accelerate net-zero design, construction and operations for real estate assets in desert climates. We look forward to powering our shared vision of sustainable building and environmental impact in the region through this strategic partnership.”

WakeCap has proven its ability to reduce safety issues by 91%. (Image source: WakeCap)

WakeCap, the sensor-powered project intelligence and controls platform trusted by major construction and oil and gas programmes, has raised US$28mn in a Series A round to accelerate its mission of making jobsites safer and more efficient.

The funding round was led by UP.Partners, with participation from Graphene Ventures and strategic investors across the US, Saudi Arabia, and Asia.

At the core of WakeCap’s platform is a commitment to safety. By providing live, site-wide visibility into workforce activity, safety risks, and incident response, WakeCap helps transform construction sites into safer, smarter workplaces. With over 150 million labour hours tracked and deployments on US$80bn worth of projects including Aramco, NEOM, Qiddiya, and King Salman Park.

WakeCap has proven its ability to reduce safety issues by 91% and improve incident response times by 70%.

"WakeCap's ability to capture and act on real-time jobsite data is critical for high-performing project controls,” said Dr. Hassan Albalawi, CEO and founder of WakeCap. “This round fuels our next stage of growth as we expand our global footprint, increasing the value we deliver to customers through richer insights, faster reporting, and greater operational efficiency. It will allow us to deepen integrations with key ecosystem partners such as Oracle and OpenSpace. We’re proud to be building a platform that puts workers first, makes jobsites safer, and brings clarity to the world’s most complex construction efforts.”

Increasing efficiency

By combining rugged, wearable hardware with enterprise-ready software, WakeCap ensures real-time visibility across critical jobsite functions, from worker access and equipment tracking to hazard alerts and compliance reporting. Unlike traditional systems, WakeCap’s non-intrusive technology works without disrupting operations, helping safety teams respond proactively rather than reactively.

“WakeCap sits at the intersection of two massive forces – the scale of global infrastructure investment and the digitisation of construction,” said Adam Grosser, chairman and managing Partner at UP.Partners. “As governments and developers undertake trillion-dollar initiatives, WakeCap’s platform brings truth, transparency, and trust to the field. We are thrilled to back Hassan and the team as they scale globally and lead the transformation of this critical industry.”

WakeCap’s rapid growth reflects a wider shift in how safety and digital transformation are converging in construction. As one of the first Saudi-founded startups to acquire a Silicon Valley tech company, the firm now operates across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Japan, and the US, with a team of professionals from 34 nationalities.

“WakeCap exemplifies what the future of construction looks like: intelligent, connected, and global,” said Nabil Borhanu, founder and managing partner at Graphene Ventures. “We continue to support WakeCap because they are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation, with a proven platform, a mission-driven culture, and deep partnerships across public and private sectors.”

The newly raised capital will be directed toward expanding WakeCap’s presence in strategic markets, enhancing its safety-focused capabilities, and integrating with leading industry platforms. The company is also scaling its workforce across engineering, product, and customer success teams.

Mohamed Amer, managing director of ICC MENA. (Image source: ICC)

The International Code Council (ICC) has launched the 45th edition of its annual Building Safety Month campaign this May, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of safe and sustainable construction practices worldwide.

The campaign underscores the critical role of modern, consistently updated building codes in ensuring structural safety and resilience.

Running throughout the month, the initiative seeks to enhance understanding of the key elements and professionals that contribute to safe building practices.

This year’s theme, “Game On!”, is a call to action, urging individuals, businesses, and communities to engage in strengthening building safety through education and active participation.

From schools and worksites to city halls and job sites, the campaign promotes local involvement—especially in fast-developing regions such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, where urban growth heightens the need for robust regulatory frameworks.

The ICC’s growing presence in the GCC region reflects the organisation’s belief in the necessity of enforceable, evolving building codes that keep pace with technological advancements, climate concerns, and population pressures.

This year’s programme also includes the second annual International Building Safety Day (IBSD) on 22 May 2025.

Introduced last year with backing from 28 international organisations, IBSD spotlights the link between building safety and public health, wellbeing, and economic resilience.

It serves as a global reminder to governments, policymakers and industry leaders to keep safety at the forefront of construction practices.

In celebration of Building Safety Month 2025, the International Code Council (ICC) and its global partners will mark the month of May with a series of themed weeks, highlighting the many facets of building safety through official recognitions, public education and community outreach.

Key themes

Building Safety Month 2025 will be marked throughout May with a series of themed weeks aimed at raising awareness about the critical role of building safety in everyday life.

The following weeks explore strategies for strengthening safety frameworks, from advocating for policy improvements to preparing for natural disasters. Professionals who uphold safety standards will be celebrated during the fourth week, while the final week, themed “Going into Overtime”, will examine emerging trends and innovations shaping global resilience. Through these activities, ICC’s campaign aims to foster a broader understanding of modern building practices and inspire ongoing commitment to safety across the built environment.

Mohamed Amer, managing director of ICC MENA, stated, “ICC MENA’s mission has always been to strengthen the safety and integrity of buildings while supporting the region’s extraordinary pace of development. As cities across the GCC continue to grow vertically and technologically, the importance of compliance with unified, robust building codes becomes even more essential, not only to protect lives and property but to drive sustainable and inclusive growth.”

He further added, “Building safety is not a one-time action; it’s a continuous commitment that involves government leaders, private-sector innovators and community stakeholders. Through our advocacy and partnerships, we aim to create a culture of safety that lasts for generations. We are proud to be participating in multiple regional events across the full ecosystem of building safety, and we’re pleased to see growing momentum around both Building Safety Month and IBSD — a timely reminder of the shared responsibility and collective action needed to elevate safety standards across the built environment."

Organised by Ventures Connect, this year’s edition featured over 160 expert speakers. (Image source: CTF)

The eighth edition of the Construction Technology ConFex (CTF) and Property Technology ConFex (PTF) concluded on 1 May, with a major focus in advancing digital transformation across the built environment.

Held in Dubai with the backing of the Dubai Land Department and Dubai Municipality, the event attracted more than 1,000 participants, including developers, contractors, consultants, tech innovators and government officials. Delegates from across the region and beyond convened to discuss the latest developments in construction and property technologies, with a strong focus on sustainability, efficiency and smarter building practices.

Organised by Ventures Connect, this year’s edition featured over 160 expert speakers and 40 exhibitors. More than 550 business-to-business meetings took place during the event, fostering knowledge exchange and opening doors to new partnerships across the sector.

Key themes

The four main pillars of the conference agenda—Tech for Climate, Tech for the Social Agenda, Tech for Competitive Edge, and Tech for Productivity and Performance—all reflected the pressing need to meet national decarbonisation targets and speed up digital adoption.

Contech and Proptech's increasing convergence, which showed how the two historically distinct industries are developing into a single, tech-driven ecosystem, was a major theme. The presenters stressed that connecting these domains creates new efficiencies, promotes sustainability, and permits flexible spaces that can adapt to shifting user experiences and occupancy requirements.

AI and IoT, contemporary building techniques, robotics, common data environments, digital twins, and cybersecurity were among the technology focus areas. Additionally, the conference examined advancements in super applications, data centre infrastructure, and tech-enabled urban life.

Alec, Damac Properties, Masdar City, Group, Emaar, and Sobha Realty exchanged case studies, perspectives, and joint future aspirations. High-value networking opportunities and practical information aimed at enhancing capital expenditure (CapEx) and operational efficiency (OpEx) across the asset lifespan were advantageous to attendees.

The Construction Technology Awards 2025 honoured exceptional people, companies, and initiatives that demonstrated leadership in sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation. The awards, which received more than 300 nominations in 24 categories, raised industry standards and attracted regional attention.

Aisha Ali, COO, Premier Construction Software, headline sponsor of the event, said, “As a leader in the AI-powered construction ERP space, Premier Construction Software was thrilled to connect with fellow industry thought leaders at the 8th Annual Construction Technology Confex UAE 2025. This event allowed us to showcase how accounting software is transforming the way general contractors and developers operate. CTF is an ideal stage to champion innovation and advance the digital transformation conversation.”

“This was our biggest CTF and PTF to date, and the positive feedback from speakers, sponsors, and attendees underlines the growing importance of understanding how digitalisation and technology are transforming the built environment,” said Katie Briggs, director, CTF. “Contech and Proptech are evolving into a seamless ecosystem bound by technology, driving smarter, more efficient, and sustainable construction and real estate practices.”