Forbes International Tower spotlights scalable, sustainable solutions at Saudi Green Building Forum

As lead sponsors of the13th SGBF, Rawabi Holding Group and Magnom Properties are showcasing the innovations and technologies that are powering the lifecycle net negative carbon goals of the futuristic tower  

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; October 9, 2023:  At the opening of the 13th Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF) on October 9 in Riyadh, Rawabi Holding Group and its subsidiary, Magnom Properties - the designated Official Sustainable Developers of the forum - have emphasised the strategic importance of meaningful partnerships in creating actionable pathways for the construction industry's journey towards carbon neutrality and a net zero future.

The built environment is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, accounting for at least 39 percent of global emissions. The 13th SGBF, organised under the theme ‘Localising Sustainable Development Goals’, is addressing ways to consolidate the local construction sector to achieve energy and water efficiencies and drive the Kingdom closer towards fully localising its SDGs in line with the Vision 2030 targets.

As lead sponsors of the two-day Forum and developers of the upcoming futuristic, lifecycle net negative carbon Forbes International Tower, Rawabi Holding and Magnom Properties is turning the spotlight on the critical need to mitigate the impact of the ongoing climate change by driving innovation and transferring expertise more aggressively to decarbonise the real estate development sector. Eminent experts at the Forum will delve into the challenges, progress and opportunities in the sector in Saudi Arabia and explore how collaboration in crucial sectors such as energy, water, green cities, and technology could streamline the industry ecosystem on a more sustainable trajectory and provide long-term solutions for the Saudi real estate market.

With sustainable building designs being pivotal to boosting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals, Magnom Properties is showcasing the smart, sustainable climate solutions incorporated within the Forbes International Tower, at the two-day Forum. Planned in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and developed in partnership with Forbes, the advanced technologies driving innovations in the Tower offer great promise for decarbonising real estate in the MENA region and in accelerating the energy transition.

The Forbes International Tower resonates strongly with the Forum’s overarching themes of conservation of energy and water, the focus on building inclusive, safe, and resilient cities through sustainable built environments, and promoting partnerships and collaboration to meet increased energy demand and achieve the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision.

At the forefront of the sustainable design movement in the region and beyond, the iconic Tower is today elevating the standards of green design and pushing boundaries of modern construction. The 55-storey commercial tower deploys state-of-the-art systems and technologies while integrating intelligence and resiliency to minimise carbon footprint, manage water, drive energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

Abdulaziz Ali AlTurki, Chairman of Rawabi Holding Group and Magnom Properties, said: “The sustainable and scalable solutions embodied in the Forbes International Tower has been harnessed through vital regional and international partnerships in line with our commitment to explore low carbon pathways. By adopting green building practices, tapping into the long-term potential of renewable energy solutions and smart water management systems, and utilising low-carbon sustainable materials, our goal is to not only drive innovation in the sector, but to also provide an opportunity for the Kingdom and the MENA region to address current urban challenges and create livable cities with world-class amenities.”

Through collaboration with renowned architecture firm, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the Forbes International Tower has entered a new era of building design. The Tower’s holistic design approach places a strong focus on environmental soundness and future readiness. On the opening day of SGBF 2023, Gordon Gill, a partner in the architecture firm, provided updates of the upcoming project and headlined a panel discussion that offered insights on the key market drivers that are accelerating smart, green building solutions within the built environment. The design architect also drew attention to the increasing role of emerging technologies in driving efficiencies in energy and water consumption, citing examples of the innovations that are fuelling the ambitious lifecycle net negative carbon goals of the Forbes International Tower.

Othman A. Ibrahim, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Rawabi Holding and Vice Chairman of Magnom Properties, added: “As the Saudi Green Building Forum spotlights the urgent need for transformations in the construction industry and calls for stakeholders to embrace gold-standard building approaches that prioritise human and environmental wellbeing, the Forbes International Tower has emerged as a perfect showcase of achieving lifecycle net negative carbon goals through significant shifts in the way assets are designed, built, and operated.”

The upcoming Forbes International Tower has set its sights on becoming the first project worldwide to be powered by safe and emissions-free Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier system (LOHC) technology, following a partnership with Schneider Electric, a leader in energy management and automation, and H2-Enterprises, a global hydrogen generation and energy storage solutions company. This will meet 75% of the total energy demands of the Tower with the remaining 25% coming from solar energy harnessed from the photovoltaic-laced design of the building. The power generation from 100% clean resources will lead to savings of 1.8 million kg of CO2 emissions annually.

As for water usage, 74% of the Tower’s needs will be met through water recycling and treatment while grey water will be reused for non-potable uses. Rainwater collection systems and smart monitoring technologies will further consolidate the responsible usage of water, translating to savings of 9.4 million litres of water annually.
In addition, the Forbes International Tower will increase the percentage of construction materials with low-embodied carbon to reduce carbon footprint by 58%, equivalent to 60 million kg of CO2 emissions. Recycling is also a critical pillar of the sustainable vision of the Forbes International Tower, which is aiming for a Platinum LEED certification.