SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST WITH GREEN CONCRETE

BY DR HASSAM CHAUDHRY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF ENERGY, GEOSCIENCE, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOCIETY, AT HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY DUBAI

The importance of sustainable construction has come under the spotlight lately with increasing awareness about adopting eco-friendly practices and solutions. Moreover, with the 28th United Nations Climate

Change Conference, also known as COP28, taking place in the UAE, governments and industry stakeholders are actively discussing their shift towards climate action. The use of concrete in construction is a pressing issue, due to its significant impact on the environment, mainly in the GCC region where the construction industry is experiencing unparalleled expansion. Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world, and its production requires large amounts of natural resources, such as sand, gravel, and water, as well as significant amounts of energy. The production of traditional concrete is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly due to the production of cement, one of the primary components of concrete.

According to the UAE Construction Market (2022 – 2027) report, the UAE’s construction sector is expected to reach a value of 133.53 billion USD by 2027. GCC countries are following a similar trend, and their combined construction industry is expected to surpass 300 billion USD by end of 2022. These figures undeniably reflect the positive market sentiment in the Middle East region with the ME construction market experiencing significant expansion, and a surge of new, potentially transformative projects. Following the introduction of the Vision 2030 strategy, Saudi Arabia alone has initiated over 1 trillion USD worth of projects. Countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman have been adopting significant methods including green building rating systems like LEED or sustainable assessment systems to address the region specific environmental needs. The UAE government’s initiatives including the UAE Vision 2021, the UAE Centennial 2071, and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, set a 50 per cent target for clean energy in the country. These have already established several sustainable development goals in the region and serve as a strategy for most upcoming projects. The government has also taken additional steps like promoting the use of green alternatives for Original Portland Cement (OPC), the major component of concrete mix that is found to emit toxic gases.

Traditional concrete has been a widely used construction material for many years but one of the main concerns remain associated with is its high carbon footprint. Also, the production process requires a significant amount of energy and emits large amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. However, the demand for concrete is increasing worldwide with the growth of urbanization and infrastructure development, putting additional pressure on already strained natural resources and exacerbating environmental issues. Therefore, finding alternatives to traditional concrete, such as green concrete is crucial in promoting more sustainable construction practices.

Green concrete is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional concrete. Unlike the latter, green concrete utilizes industrial waste materials such as fly ash and slag as partial replacements for cement, reducing the carbon footprint of the production process. Additionally, the use of supplementary cementitious materials in green concrete can improve its strength and durability, making it a more longlasting solution. This can reduce the use of natural resources, and greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality by reducing the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted during construction. Furthermore, the use of green concrete can help promote a circular economy by reducing waste and creating new opportunities for recycling. By using recycled materials, green concrete can help divert waste from landfills and turn it into a valuable resource.

The concrete industry has been integrating technology with renewable resources to provide environment-friendly alternatives to meet the demands of green products. It is indeed a ‘concrete’ step, an environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to achieve the goal of building an eco-friendly future. Adapting green concrete is shifting from being a preference to becoming a priority globally and the Middle East is no exception considering the slew of upcoming high-end mixed-use projects in countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Governments along with industry stakeholders must come together to create a robust ecosystem. For instance, Heriot-Watt University Dubai’s Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction (CESC) is a research and development initiative that collaborates with organisations to accelerate the use of best practices in the construction sector.