Inside an Oman Project: How AkzoNobel Is Helping Shape a More Sustainable Built Environment
October 8, 2026By ODBW Feature by Swathi Suresh
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As Oman accelerates its urban development ambitions, the materials used to construct its buildings are becoming as important as the structures themselves. From advanced protective coatings to low-carbon concrete and energy-efficient building envelopes, sustainable materials are redefining how the Sultanate approaches construction, resilience and long-term environmental performance.
Oman's built environment is entering a period of transformation. Across the Sultanate, new residential communities, commercial developments, industrial facilities and integrated urban destinations are reshaping the country's architectural landscape. Yet beyond the scale and ambition of these developments lies a more fundamental question: how can Oman build infrastructure that is not only modern and economically viable, but also resilient to the environmental demands of the future?
The answer increasingly begins with the materials themselves. For decades, construction decisions have largely been influenced by cost, structural performance and availability. Today, a broader set of considerations is emerging. Energy efficiency, embodied carbon, material durability, resource conservation and lifecycle performance are becoming important measures of a building's long-term value.
In Oman, where high temperatures, intense solar exposure, coastal humidity and saline conditions present distinct engineering challenges, sustainable construction requires more than the adoption of internationally recognised green building practices. It demands solutions specifically adapted to the local environment.
Building for Oman's Climate A building's environmental performance is determined long before its occupants move in. The selection of concrete, steel, insulation, glazing, coatings and finishing materials influences how much energy a structure consumes, how frequently it requires maintenance and how effectively it withstands environmental exposure.
In Oman's climate, the relationship between material selection and energy consumption is particularly significant. Buildings exposed to prolonged solar radiation can experience considerable heat gain, increasing demand for mechanical cooling. High-performance insulation, solar-control glazing, reflective roofing systems and specialised exterior coatings can help reduce the amount of heat entering a building, potentially improving indoor comfort and lowering cooling requirements. Protective coatings also have an important role in extending the service life of structures. In coastal environments, where moisture and salt accelerate corrosion, appropriately specified coating systems can help protect steel and other exposed surfaces from deterioration.
The significance of these innovations extends beyond individual building components. Materials that require fewer replacements, reduce maintenance interventions or improve operational efficiency can contribute to lower environmental impacts over a building's lifespan. This reflects a wider shift in construction thinking: sustainability is no longer exclusively about how a building operates, but also about how it is designed, manufactured, constructed, maintained and eventually repurposed.
The Material Innovation Opportunity Advances in material science are expanding the possibilities for more resource-efficient construction. Lower-carbon cement and concrete formulations, including those incorporating supplementary cementitious materials, offer opportunities to reduce reliance on conventional clinker-intensive production. Recycled steel and responsibly sourced construction materials can help reduce demand for virgin resources, while prefabricated and modular construction techniques can improve material efficiency and limit waste generated onsite. Meanwhile, developments in coating technologies are creating opportunities to improve surface protection, thermal performance and maintenance efficiency. Companies such as AkzoNobel have highlighted the importance of adapting the built environment through material innovation, drawing attention to how surface technologies and building solutions can respond to changing environmental requirements. For Oman, the relevance of such innovations lies in their practical application. A high-performance coating may contribute to the durability of a coastal industrial facility. An improved insulation system may help reduce cooling demand in a residential development. A lower-carbon concrete mix may reduce the embodied emissions associated with a new commercial building. Individually, these improvements may appear incremental. Applied across large-scale urban developments, however, they have the potential to influence resource consumption, maintenance costs and environmental performance over several decades. Importantly, sustainable materials must be evaluated according to their suitability for specific applications. A product marketed as environmentally friendly does not automatically deliver better outcomes under every climatic or operational condition. Performance testing, lifecycle assessment and compatibility with local construction standards remain essential.
From Construction Standards to Sustainable Performance Oman's policy environment is also evolving to support more consistent building performance. The 2025 Oman Building Code framework includes dedicated provisions addressing energy efficiency and sustainability, alongside structural safety, building systems and other technical requirements. Developed under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the framework provides an important foundation for improving construction quality and supporting more resilient development. The emergence of these standards signals an important transition for the industry. Rather than treating sustainability as an optional design enhancement, developers, consultants and contractors are increasingly being encouraged to consider energy performance and environmental responsibility as integral components of project planning. This direction is consistent with Oman Vision 2040, which identifies sustainable resource management, environmental protection and a green and circular economy among its national priorities.
Sustainable Environment The challenge now lies in translating these ambitions into measurable outcomes. Material specifications need to be supported by reliable environmental data, transparent supply chains and verifiable performance claims. Architects and engineers must consider how individual products interact within the wider building system, while developers need to evaluate initial capital expenditure against long-term operational and maintenance costs. A material with a higher upfront price, for example, may deliver greater value if it reduces cooling demand, extends replacement intervals or minimises maintenance over the building's service life. This requires a shift from procurement decisions based primarily on initial cost towards a more comprehensive understanding of whole-life value.
The Case for a Circular Construction Economy Sustainable construction is also closely connected to the way materials move through the economy. Traditional construction practices frequently follow a linear model: resources are extracted, manufactured into products, installed in buildings and eventually discarded during demolition or refurbishment. A circular approach seeks to retain material value for longer through more efficient design, reuse, recycling and recovery. For Oman, this creates opportunities across the construction supply chain. Designing buildings for adaptability can reduce the need for extensive reconstruction as occupancy requirements change. Greater use of modular components may facilitate future refurbishment and material recovery. Improved segregation of construction and demolition waste can create opportunities for recycled aggregates and other secondary materials, subject to technical and quality requirements. There is also a potential industrial opportunity. As demand grows for materials with improved environmental performance, local manufacturers and suppliers may find new avenues for product development, technical partnerships and specialised manufacturing capabilities. However, developing a circular construction economy requires coordination. Material producers, designers, contractors, waste management companies and regulators must work together to establish practical standards, reliable recovery systems and viable markets for recycled products. Without this integration, circularity risks remaining a design aspiration rather than an operational reality.
Rethinking the Value of a Building Perhaps the most important transformation is taking place in how the construction industry defines value. A building's success cannot be measured solely by its architectural appearance, construction timeline or initial investment. Its ability to remain efficient, adaptable and structurally sound over time is equally important. This is particularly relevant as Oman advances integrated urban developments designed to support economic diversification, investment and changing community needs. For developers, material durability and energy performance can influence operating expenditure and asset competitiveness. For occupants, they can contribute to thermal comfort and healthier indoor environments. For the wider economy, improved resource efficiency can help reduce waste and support more responsible patterns of development. The next phase of sustainable construction will therefore depend not simply on introducing new materials, but on improving how materials are selected and evaluated. Lifecycle assessments, environmental product declarations, performance-based specifications and digital building information systems can provide greater visibility into the long-term implications of construction decisions. They can also help distinguish measurable environmental improvements from sustainability claims that lack sufficient supporting evidence.
Building the Next Generation of Oman The future of Oman's built environment will be shaped by decisions being made today, many of which may remain invisible once construction is complete. Behind the architectural identity of a new development are thousands of material choices, each influencing its energy performance, durability, maintenance requirements and environmental footprint.
As Oman continues to invest in urban expansion and infrastructure modernisation, sustainable building materials offer an opportunity to align construction growth with long-term resource efficiency and climate resilience. The industry must now move beyond viewing sustainability as a collection of individual technologies and recognise it as an integrated approach to building design, construction and asset management. For architects, developers, engineers and material suppliers, the opportunity is to create buildings that perform better throughout their lifecycle, rather than simply meet the requirements of the present.
Ultimately, the future of sustainable construction in Oman will not be defined only by how much the country builds, but by how intelligently, responsibly and durably it builds.
Have a look at AkzoNobel's innovation and contribution to Oman's Built Environment :
https://youtube.com/shorts/js74_COkxTY?si=yuPWayl0kg6YEZyX
