The second edition of the Smart Building Summit, a key highlight of the Light + Intelligent Building Middle East exhibition, has commenced, showcasing the latest advancements and potential growth in the smart buildings industry.
This event, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre until January 18, is the region’s largest exhibition for lighting and building technology, drawing experts and industry leaders from around the globe.
Grace Najjar, CEO of Align Management Solutions, delivered insightful remarks at the event. She emphasized the significant growth expected in the global smart buildings market, projecting an increase from US$96 billion in 2023 to an estimated US$408 billion by 2030. This expansion reflects the increasing demand for sustainable and intelligent building solutions worldwide.
Najjar highlighted the crucial role of smart buildings in reducing carbon emissions, a significant concern given that construction and real estate contribute to 40% of global emissions. She noted that with government support, the sustainable building sector could save approximately 4.8 trillion dollars globally over the next three years. Additionally, the building sector is anticipated to witness an average CO2 emissions reduction of 6% per year until 2025.
Dubai, a rapidly growing city with over 150 skyscrapers, including the world’s tallest building, is at the forefront of this transformation. Under Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy, the city aims to produce 75% of its energy from clean sources by 2050, with the goal of having the smallest carbon footprint globally. Developing smart and sustainable buildings is pivotal to achieving this ambition.
The Middle East is emerging as a leader in this global shift towards sustainable smart buildings, setting benchmarks for other regions to follow. Najjar added that smart buildings are leaving a positive legacy by focusing on long-term success, technical excellence, contemporary design, innovation, user experience, digitalization, and collaboration.
H.E Dr. Ali Jassim, Chairperson of the Emirates Green Building Council, also spoke at the summit, discussing the path to sustainable smart buildings. He highlighted their potential to reduce emissions and resource consumption and touched upon the role of COP28 in shaping building regulations.
The summit’s agenda included diverse sessions such as Healthy Buildings and Communities, Smart Cities, the Sustainable Development Story of Expo City, the Power of AI in Buildings, Revolutionizing Energy Efficiency, and the concept of Dark and Smart Cities of North.
This year’s Light + Intelligent Building Middle East exhibition has seen significant growth, spanning three halls, marking a 75% increase in event space and a 128% growth in exhibitor numbers from the previous year. Over 400 international exhibitors are showcasing the latest trends, innovations, and technologies in lighting, electrical engineering, and smart building sectors.
The event, running from January 16 to January 18, offers a unique platform for professionals and enthusiasts in the smart building sector to connect, learn, and explore the future of sustainable and intelligent building solutions in the Middle East and beyond.
