The UAE is leading the GCC initiatives in smart building solutions with more than two-thirds of the 1,236 Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)-certified projects, according to a study by technology firm Honeywell International.

''It is also the frontrunner in the region in implementing unified building codes for new buildings. Since 2014, the Abu Dhabi International Building Code (ADIBC) standards have become compulsory for all projects in the emirate,'' the study was quoted as saying by Wam news agency.

The international smart building market is expected to touch $36.3 billion by 2020 from $7.26 billion in 2015, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38 per cent, according to a recent report.

Quick to respond to this global trend, the GCC continues to bolster its smart building solutions sector with the implementation of strict environmental regulations.

Dubai has recently launched the green building rating system called Al Safat, which classifies facilities under the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze categories. Every building constructed in the emirate after 2014 has to adhere to the minimum Bronze requirement to receive a permit.

The new building codes facilitate Dubai’s move towards becoming a smart city. They also complement Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to provide seven per cent of the emirate’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2020, increasing its capacity to 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050.