Sustainability in the Middle East: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions

Abstract

The construction and built environment sector is one of the largest contributors to global pollution, yet it is also one of the most promising opportunities for decreasing environmental degradation and encouraging responsible resource management. Sustainable design and building have been a recent trend in regions like the Middle East where natural resources are limited, and the situation is complicated by socio-political intricacies. This study discusses the progress made and the obstacles that remain in achieving sustainable development in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Lebanon have introduced green construction rules as part of a regional commitment to environmental stewardship, underpinned by high-profile buildings that have attracted international attention. Sustainability objectives have been pushed forward by corporate social responsibility efforts that include commercial sector actors in community-focused projects. These successes, however, are undermined by severe water shortages, low levels of public knowledge about environmental issues despite relatively high levels of educational attainment, and logistical and financial challenges of converting the existing building stock. Middle Eastern countries have historically shown tenacity in overcoming adversity, and their path toward sustainable development implies a similar will to tackle these modern difficulties.