Developers in the Gulf region are being called to fundamentally change the way luxury homes are designed and built due to increasing heat stress, according to Talal M. Al Gaddah, CEO and Founder of the Keturah luxury brand.

This call to action follows recent climate research by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which identifies the Arabian Peninsula as one of the most affected regions by intensified heat stress since the 1970s.

The study highlights that heat stress, a leading cause of weather-related deaths, results from high temperatures and humidity, exacerbating health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. The ten hottest days in the Arabian Peninsula now feel up to 4°C hotter than in the 1970s, with further increases expected as emissions rise.

Al Gaddah emphasises the importance of selecting materials and systems designed to handle the Gulf's heat, humidity, and air quality challenges. "Outdoor temperatures are only part of the problem," he stated. "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."

Keturah's developments in Dubai, including the AED5.7 billion Keturah Reserve and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, incorporate health-led construction with features like antimicrobial tiling and zero-VOC finishes. These projects align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UAE's Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which focus on sustainable urban development.

Al Gaddah asserts that health-led construction is now a baseline standard, driven by both buyer expectations and scientific evidence. "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," he concluded

This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.