GORD Develops Gulf Region's First Sustainable Construction Code

Doha, Qatar: Having developed the GCC region's first-ever 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 agreement was formalised by Founding Chairman of GORD Dr. Yousef bin Mohammed Alhorr, and President of GSO Eng Nawaf bin Ibrahim Al Hamad Al Mana at GSO headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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

The newly developed Sustainable Construction Code, created by experts at GORD -headquartered at Qatar Science &Technology Park- draws on the success of GORD's flagship Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), developed as the first performance based green buildings rating system in MENA region, will 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 about the document, Dr. Yousef Alhorr said,“We take immense pride in GORD's instrumental contribution to the Gulf Building Code by developing the first unified Sustainable Construction Code for the region. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our commitment to advancing sustainability and promoting a more environmentally conscious future for the Gulf nations. 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.”

President of GSO said,“Green buildings play a crucial role in helping the GCC region achieve its climate goals by significantly reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions and resource use. To this end, the Sustainable Construction Code represents GCC countries' vision for a greener, more sustainable future. We are certain that this unified framework will pave the way for a region-wide transformation of the construction industry, where sustainability is not just an option, but an integral part of every project.”

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