Sustainable Project of the Year

The Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, is a state-of-the-art 47,000-seat venue designed to host major international sporting events such as the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and potentially the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

From the outset, the project embedded Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into every phase - design, construction, and future operations. Key ESG aims included decarbonisation, resource efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and occupant health. These were pursued through green concrete, passive cooling strategies, smart energy and water systems, and a 95% landfill waste diversion rate.

The stadium also sought Mostadam Diamond certification at the design stage and LEED Gold pre-certification, with aspirations for LEED and Mostadam Gold certifications. It successfully delivered on its ambitious sustainability targets while meeting tight deadlines, serving as a benchmark for climate-responsive, socially inclusive, and environmentally responsible stadium design.

The project not only met but exceeded its ESG goals, setting a standard for sustainable infrastructure in hot climates.

Damac Lagoons is a benchmark for sustainable, resort-style community delivery in Dubai - proving that premium lifestyle and measurable environmental performance can be planned together, not traded off. The community was shaped around a clear sustainability narrative: lower-carbon living, smarter utilities, circular operations, and a healthier public realm.

Its sustainability features are intentionally visible and ‘resident-facing’: shaded wellness routes that make walking comfortable, sustainable mobility planning that supports micromobility and EV readiness, drinking water fountains that improve daily hydration access, and enhanced environmental quality designed to create cooler, cleaner outdoor environments.

Behind the scenes, the project integrates smart systems that turn targets into operational realities - sensor-enabled waste systems that improve collection efficiency and reduce contamination, air quality stations that enable monitoring and responsive management, and water reuse networks that reduce dependence on potable supply.

With a quantified carbon pathway of 3.28 tCO2eq per capita (predicted be the lowest in Dubai), 100% solar powered public infrastructure, 30% energy savings, ‘zero water’ intent enabled through treated wastewater and recycling networks, and 75% waste diversion, Damac Lagoons demonstrates community-scale ESG implementation that is both measurable and liveable.

The King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) is emerging as a flagship industrial ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, blending cutting‑edge infrastructure with a firm commitment to sustainability. Covering 16.8 sq km of the 50 sq km earmarked for Phase 1 and the dry port, SPARK is built as a vibrant community capturing the full economic value of the energy value chain across the Kingdom and the wider region.

A key component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, SPARK is a hub for the regional energy sector, offering world-class infrastructure to attract global investors in oil, gas, refining, petrochemicals, and utilities. It is the first industrial city to earn the regional Mostadam Gold Certification, a respected green building standard, highlighting its commitment to sustainability and innovation standards.

Additionally, SPARK is the first industrial city globally to earn a silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The project has pioneered the adoption of sustainable practices, alongside the use of advanced, environmentally friendly construction materials and methods.

King Salman Park is one of the world’s largest urban parks, transforming a former military airfield in central Riyadh into a climate-resilient, biodiverse, and socially inclusive urban ecosystem. Spanning 17 sq km, with over 11 sq km of green space, the project integrates landscapes, culture, sports, and mixed-use districts within a unified sustainability framework.

The project supports Vision 2030, the Saudi Green Initiative, and Net Zero 2060 by regenerating degraded land, improving liveability, and reducing environmental impact in an arid climate. Sustainability is embedded through a systems-based approach covering water, energy, mobility, biodiversity, and social infrastructure.

Environmental outcomes include approximately 1 million trees, 600+ plant species, and habitat for up to 250 bird species, doubling Riyadh’s green space per capita. All landscape irrigation uses treated recycled water supported by smart irrigation and engineered soils. Buildings target reductions in potable water use, operational energy, and embodied carbon.

Social outcomes include 150 attractions, 50 venues, and a 7.2 km walking, cycling, and micromobility loop. Mixed-use districts accommodate approximately 100,000 residents and support 30,000 jobs. Governance is delivered through King Salman Park Foundation’s Sustainability Framework across planning, design, procurement, and operations, translating ESG objectives into measurable metropolitan-scale outcomes.

Rua Al Madinah is a mixed-use district adjacent to the Prophet’s Mosque, designed to reposition Madinah as a benchmark for spiritual hospitality and sustainable urbanism. The project achieved the first community-level Mostadam Diamond certification for implementing sustainability systems across mobility, infrastructure, land use, and smart city solutions.

Supporting this leadership, the company holds 18 Mostadam-certified commercial assets, the largest green building portfolio in Saudi Arabia, positioning Rua at the highest possible sustainability standard.

The project’s ESG strategy integrates three complementary layers: climate-responsive design, data-driven operations, and robust governance. Environmentally, the masterplan and buildings target significant reductions in energy and water consumption, supported by advanced waste management.

The sustainable public realm - encompassing 63% green space with multifunctional landscapes and more than 80% Medina native plants, permeable surfaces, and water-sensitive design - simultaneously addresses stormwater management, urban heat mitigation, and community well-being.

Socially, the project will accommodate 30 million visitors annually by 2030 while enhancing well-being, comfort, accessibility, and walkability, and creating more than 93,000 quality jobs.

Governance is anchored in a board-approved sustainability strategy, detailed sustainability process manuals, and standardised procedures that embed and govern ESG in daily decision-making, rather than treating sustainability as a parallel initiative.

The Saadiyat Reserve Mosque and Community Nodes exemplifies a visionary approach to contemporary Islamic architecture, blending heritage, innovation, and sustainability. Situated in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Reserve, the project functions as both a place of worship and a vibrant social hub, with multi-functional community nodes supporting education, cultural exchange, and civic engagement.

Aldar Properties, in collaboration with Masri Engineering & Contracting and NEB Engineering Consultancy, delivered a design that balances spiritual serenity with modern functionality. The mosque reflects a contemporary interpretation of Islamic geometry, harmoniously integrated with the surrounding landscape, while ensuring human scale and accessibility.

Sustainability and innovation are central to the project. Passive design strategies - natural ventilation, daylight optimisation, and solar shading - combined with energy-efficient MEP systems to create a low-impact, high-performance building. Advanced construction techniques ensure precision and durability, while flexible community spaces foster social cohesion and inclusivity.

By seamlessly integrating environmental stewardship, social engagement, and architectural excellence, the Saadiyat Reserve Mosque and Community Nodes sets a benchmark for culturally resonant, sustainable design, demonstrating how architecture can enhance community life while honouring tradition.

Sobha One is a high-density residential development in Dubai with approximately 6 million sq ft of built-up area and about 3.8 million sq ft of Gross Floor Area, delivering over 3,000 apartments for nearly 10,000 residents.

The project is arranged as a 350-metre-long composition of nine interlinked towers ranging from 30 to 66 storeys, forming a stepped skyline oriented towards Dubai Creek, Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa, and the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, while responding to climatic and urban constraints.

From inception, the project was driven by a defined objective to reduce cooling demand and lifecycle environmental impact in a desert climate while improving comfort, liveability, and long-term operational resilience. Performance-led analysis informed climate-responsive massing, self-shading tower geometry, façade articulation, and construction methodology, embedding sustainability within form and systems rather than as post-design mitigation.

Through climate-responsive massing, advanced insulation and shading, high-efficiency building systems, renewable energy integration, and prefabrication-led construction, the project achieved over 60% operational energy savings, approximately 40% water reduction, and more than 30% embodied carbon reduction against baseline benchmarks.

These outcomes were independently verified through Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification with Whole Life Carbon recognition.

The Sustainable City Yas Island (TSCYI) is a 40-hectare, low-rise residential community in North Yas, Abu Dhabi, designed to accommodate approximately 3,500 residents. Conceived as a district-scale sustainability model, the master plan integrates homes, community facilities, retail, mobility networks, green infrastructure and productive landscapes into a single, performance-led system.

From inception, ESG objectives were embedded as core design drivers across environmental, social and governance pillars. Environmentally, the project targets near-net-zero operational energy through aggressive demand reduction, large-scale rooftop and parking-canopy solar PV, district cooling with solar offset, 100% treated sewage effluent irrigation, water-sensitive urban design, native planting and zero-waste-to-landfill planning.

These measures significantly reduce carbon, water and resource intensity at community scale. Socially, TSCYI prioritises health, inclusion and wellbeing through a car-lite internal environment, shaded walkable sikkas, extensive public open space, urban farming, community amenities and a dedicated autism education centre that supports inclusive learning.

Governance outcomes are secured through a formal ESG delivery and long-term asset-management framework, ensuring performance beyond handover.

These aims have been realised through delivery of the region’s first Estidama 4-Pearl PCRS and 5-Pearl PVRS community, establishing a benchmark for sustainable residential development in Abu Dhabi.

Turtle Bay International School (TBIS) is the first fully integrated educational facility within The Red Sea destination’s employee village. Operated by SEK Education Group, the co-educational school opened for the 2025–26 academic year with an initial capacity of 120 students.

Designed to translate global sustainability commitments into practical local outcomes, TBIS is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Saudi Vision 2030, and the Saudi Green Initiative. ESG principles are embedded across planning, design, delivery, and operations to create a future-ready, resilient learning environment.

As a model of sustainable educational infrastructure, TBIS champions inclusive design, environmental efficiency, and community wellbeing. Its development aligns with key built-environment SDGs, including Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3), Quality Education (4), Clean Water and Sanitation (6), Affordable and Clean Energy (7), Responsible Consumption (12), and Climate Action (13).

The project follows a Net Zero Energy pathway using off-site solar PV, high-efficiency systems, drought-resistant native landscaping, and integrated waste and pollution prevention measures. TBIS has achieved the highest-ever score under LEED v4 BD+C: Schools and is one of only 14 LEED Platinum-certified schools globally.