Saudi Arabia can turn efficiency into an energy advantage

The article highlights a significant opportunity within the Gulf Cooperation Council's construction and real estate markets, particularly in Saudi Arabia: enhancing energy efficiency in existing buildings. Many towers across the region are performing below their original design specifications, creating a substantial gap between intended and actual energy consumption. This discrepancy represents a significant potential for savings, improved asset performance, and long-term value creation. With global energy prices, including oil, influencing operational costs, optimizing building efficiency becomes paramount. For the GCC, this trend aligns with broader sustainability agendas and economic diversification efforts, such as Saudi Vision 2030. Investing in retrofitting and smart building technologies can transform operational liabilities into strategic advantages, making properties more attractive and sustainable. This opens a lucrative market for specialized contractors, technology providers, and consultants focused on energy management and building performance optimization within the region's vast existing infrastructure.