Advanced technologies for smart buildings and smart cities are shaping the region’s future says Russell Hunter, principal with chapmanbdsp.
In the decade or so since I’ve been based in the Middle East, there’s been a real sea change in terms of the attitude towards smart buildings from end users, developers and corporate clients about their adoption of advanced technologies.
This shift has been the result of both voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and abiding by more mandated regulations, such as the evolving Dubai building codes. This transformation in approach reflects the region’s commitment to modernising its infrastructure and reducing its carbon footprint.
A key part of this is the integration of smart systems designed to optimise workplace efficiency. They enable landlords and tenants to monitor energy consumption and manage environmental controls which improves operational efficiency. The idea of the ‘smart’ workplace is far more commonplace, particular in the context of corporate real estate, where blue chip firms now expect integrated technologies from the outset of a project.
Various high-profile projects have already demonstrated the power of adopting smart technologies to significantly enhance their offices. These leading-edge workplaces are equipped with systems that can control energy use, monitor indoor air quality, and even measure health-related metrics such as carbon dioxide levels, which can link to employee wellness programs.
Indeed, advancements in smart buildings also address broader goals such as health and wellness, employee empowerment, and corporate accountability. Employees have the ability not just book meeting rooms but to adjust environmental settings such as light and temperature and even going so far as being able to schedule appointments with onsite clinics or health facilities, all through app-based access. This goes beyond just convenience for the average office worker but aims to optimise how resources are used and promote better overall workplace conditions.
It's fair to say that despite significant progress in terms of smart buildings, the Middle East is to some degree still catching up with older, more established markets such as the UK and Europe. That said, smart city initiatives are gaining momentum in the Middle East. Giga projects like Riyadh's DGDA (Diriyah Gate Development Authority) and similar developments in Saudi Arabia incorporate smart city frameworks.
These projects are, in essence, macro-level applications of the same technologies used in smaller, individual smart buildings: open protocols, data sharing, and integration but on a much larger scale, impacting entire urban environments. Large-scale projects such as those mentioned require the integration of comprehensive smart systems that track everything from energy consumption and pedestrian traffic to waste management and utility use.
As the industry evolves around the world, the importance of having standardised protocols and collaborative efforts among vendors will be critical for achieving true interoperability between systems to create a truly unified platform for all smart building applications.
In the Middle East, significant progress is nonetheless being made in terms of smart buildings, driven by both governmental mandates and private sector initiatives. This reflects a growing regional commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and the well-being of employees. Right now is a transformative period in terms of Middle East infrastructure, setting the stage for more integrated and technology-driven environments in the future.