Developers across the Gulf region need to fundamentally rethink how luxury homes are designed and built, as rising heat stress exposes the limitations of construction materials and methods that were never engineered for this climate, stated Talal M. Al Gaddah, the CEO and Founder of the Keturah luxury brand.
His comments follow new climate research published by scientists at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which found a sharp intensification of heat stress globally since the 1970s, with the Arabian Peninsula among the regions most affected.
The study showed that heat stress, the leading cause of weather-related deaths, involves the build-up of body heat due to high temperatures, often combined with other factors such as high humidity.
According to Al Gaddah, the developers in GCC must respond by selecting materials and systems specifically designed to manage the heat, humidity and air quality challenges that Gulf residents live with year-round.
Heat can exacerbate underlying cardiovascular, respiratory and mental health conditions, especially for vulnerable people, outdoor workers and urban residents.
Across the Arabian Peninsula, the ten warmest days of the year now feel up to 4°C hotter than in the 1970s, and further increases are projected as emissions continue to rise.
Inside homes, the main risks are moisture build-up, mold from condensation, and volatile organic compounds from conventional paints and finishes that intensify in enclosed, air-conditioned spaces.
"Outdoor temperatures are only part of the problem," said Al Gaddah. "How walls manage moisture, how air moves through a space, and the surfaces residents live with daily all determine whether a home genuinely protects the people inside it," he stated.
As awareness of these risks grows, air quality, material certifications and indoor environmental performance influence how luxury homes are evaluated, and Keturah’s two major Dubai developments have been designed with this in mind, said Al Gaddah.
At Keturah Reserve, the AED5.7 billion ($1.5 billion) luxury bio-living community, AED200 million has been invested in health-led construction, incorporating antimicrobial tiling, breathable wall systems and zero-VOC finishes chosen for the specific demands of the region's climate.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Keturah Resort, on the shores of Dubai Creek adjacent to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, applies the same principles across a development that combines branded residences, hospitality and a dedicated wellness centre, he noted.
Al Gaddah pointed out that health-led construction was no longer an optional consideration for developers in this region, but a baseline standard that buyer expectations and the science now both demand.
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UAE's Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan both place a clear emphasis on sustainable and healthy urban development, giving the shift towards health-conscious construction a firm policy foundation across the region's two largest real estate markets.
"The next generation of luxury homes in this region will be defined not by how they look but by how well they perform for the people living in them," remarked Al Gaddah.
"Buyers are sophisticated enough now to ask the right questions, and developers need to have the right answers," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
