DIFC FinTech Summit Roundtable on Sustainable Construction

May 12, 2025

The roundtable brought together leaders from construction, sustainability, and policy to tackle the challenges of green material procurement and sustainable building practices in the UAE. Discussions highlighted the need for early integration of sustainability, better data and certification, and cross-functional collaboration across design, procurement, and executive teams.

Key Takeaways

• Green materials are often available at no premium, yet still overlooked due to low awareness and default practices.
• Procurement processes lack transparency and often undermine sustainability goals.
• Data gaps (e.g. lack of EPDs and material databases) hinder decision-making.
• Cross-sector collaboration and executive-level commitment are essential to drive change.
• Voluntary procurement standards by developers can accelerate market transformation ahead of regulations.

Next Steps

• Support the creation of a UAE-specific digital material passport or certified green materials database.
• Encourage early supplier engagement during design and concept phases.
• Launch education initiatives targeting procurement, legal, and engineering teams.
• Promote adoption of third-party certifications (e.g. EPDs) in procurement processes.
• Continue dialogue to shape voluntary standards and regulatory recommendations.