Having developed the GCC region’s first Sustainable Construction Code, the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) – a subsidiary of Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company – has signed an agreement with the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) for integrating the code into the wider Gulf Building Code.

The Gulf Building Code, endorsed by the Ministries of Municipalities and Urban Planning in the GCC, serves as a comprehensive framework guiding building and construction practices across the region.

The newly-developed Sustainable Construction Code, created by experts at GORD draws on the success of its flagship Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), developed as the first performance-based green buildings rating system in the Mena region. It is expected to significantly contribute to the Gulf’s transition to more sustainable urban landscapes.

The Sustainable Construction Code serves as a vital intergovernmental tool, aiming to promote sustainable practices across a broad spectrum. It establishes a baseline set of green building criteria for a diverse range of construction projects, addressing various facets of sustainability. Initially conceived in 2010, the project was entrusted to GORD, leveraging its extensive expertise and leadership in the sustainability domain.

Speaking on the document, Dr Yousef Bin Mohammed Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD, said: “The Code is designed to ensure wider accessibility and adoption, ultimately promoting the creation of sustainable urban landscapes throughout the region. At the same time, it serves as a starting point toward a holistic green building framework in the future, where sustainability becomes deeply integrated into every facet of the regional building and construction industry.”

The 115-page Sustainable Construction Code offers a multifaceted approach with the flexibility of both prescriptive and performance-based assessments. While its core principles are derived from the GSAS green building framework, the Code represents a simplified version with reduced requirements.  The 55 criteria are narrowed down to 22, each representing key performance indicators (KPI’s) for sustainable buildings. This deliberate simplification ensures ease of adoption and enforceability across the GCC.