The United Arab Emirates is a popular tourist destination, with much of the draw attributed to its impressive megastructures: the Burj Khalifa and the Future Museum in Dubai, Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace and Qasr al Watan, the Louvre and, of course, Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

There is over U.S. $710 billion invested in ongoing construction projects aimed at fostering economic growth and development. At the same time, architectural marvels and rapid urbanization often come at the cost of environmental sustainability.

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Shadeedha Saradara is a Ph.D. student at Khalifa University. With KU professor Malik Khalfan, she examined the sustainability initiatives surrounding construction efforts in the UAE, evaluating their effectiveness and drawing comparisons with regional and international standards.

The UAE government is unequivocally committed to attaining its sustainable development goals.

– Shadeedha Saradara, Khalifa University

Saradara says the built environment is a major contributor to global environmental challenges, responsible for over 50 percent of the annual global extraction of materials and a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions.

“In 2015, the same year members of the U.N. signed the Paris Agreement to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, the construction industry was responsible for 38 percent of the total world carbon dioxide emissions,” Saradara says. “It’s imperative that we quickly and substantially reduce these emissions in the building sector on a worldwide scale if we want to achieve the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement.”

However, the journey to sustainable construction is fraught with obstacles. The UAE, a nation synonymous with rapid development and constant construction, serves as a case study for this challenge.

“The UAE’s transformation from a modest economy to a global hub has been meteoric,” Saradara says.

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“But this comes with a hefty carbon footprint. The construction sector here must now pivot toward a circular approach that emphasizes reuse and minimizes waste. This isn’t just an environmental imperative, it can also have economic benefits, reducing the long-term costs associated with material consumption and waste management,” she adds.

Saradara notes the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development is evident in its policies and practices. Despite its reliance on fossil fuels and the environmental pressures of air-conditioning and desalination, the country is striving to reduce its carbon emissions and enhance its sustainability credentials.

“The construction sector stands as a cornerstone of the UAE’s economy, but this comes with a set of environmental responsibilities,” she says. “There are new green building standards and certifications which are augmented by existing global certifications, and efforts to reduce emissions from the construction industry and construction and demolition waste are all backed up with Emirate-level programs and policies.”

More legislation and initiatives are still needed to address the challenge of sustainable construction, but Saradara says the UAE is definitely heading in the right direction: “The UAE government is unequivocally committed to attaining its sustainable development goals, showcasing its dedication to ensuring a sustainable future for its population and natural resources.”