Adoption of Green Building Rating Systems in Saudi Arabia: Barriers and Solutions

Over the last 40 years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has experienced economic growth that has driven urbanization and infrastructure improvements. However, this has also led to high resource use and poor planning, exacerbating climate challenges and underscoring the need for international cooperation. Given the substantial energy use associated with buildings, sustainable global building standards have been developed. Saudi Vision 2030 encourages sustainable practices in energy, housing, and water by adopting green building standards to guide environmentally friendly initiatives. This study provides an overview of the current status of green building rating systems in KSA and examines the principal obstacles faced during their implementation. Utilizing importance-performance analysis (IPA), the study identifies and evaluates strategies to advance green building ratings, drawing upon survey data from diverse stakeholders. Major barriers include low awareness across the public and private sectors and technical challenges such as a shortage of qualified professionals, limited information, and unreliable resources. The strategies proposed aim to establish clear standards for sustainable construction and promote targeted awareness campaigns with industry leaders and government, highlighting the long-term environmental and financial advantages of green buildings. Identifying these barriers and evaluating interventions will help to advance green building rating systems and sustainability in KSA and worldwide.