Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi: 90% of global infrastructure is wasted – we must rethink urban planning

Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Consultative Council, opened the BUILD 360 MEP 2025 Conference in Dubai with a powerful message: the world is wasting about 90% of its infrastructure, and it’s time to seriously rethink the way we plan and build our cities.

Speaking to a room filled with top decision-makers, engineers, sustainability experts, and innovators, Al Nuaimi emphasized that this kind of gathering is essential for shaping the future of cities and the environment. The conference, organized by MEP Middle East from ITP Media Group, was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dubai and focused on smart building systems and sustainable engineering.

Al Nuaimi said that his previous talks usually focused on climate change, but this time, he wanted to shine a light on another urgent issue: how cities are being planned and managed.

He explained that urban planning isn’t just about building roads and houses—it’s a much bigger system that involves engineering, infrastructure, housing, sustainability, and strong, forward-thinking governments. “When governments have long-term visions, engineers and planners can feel confident that their work today will stand strong in the future,” he said.

One of the most striking points he made was that up to 90% of global infrastructure is going to waste. This, he explained, is a wake-up call for the entire world to review and improve how we design and execute construction projects. “If we’re wasting almost everything, then we need to completely rethink how we build our cities to make them smarter, more flexible, and truly sustainable,” he stressed.

Al Nuaimi also highlighted five major challenges faced by countries in the Global South, especially as climate change accelerates and urban crises worsen. He pointed out that many of these countries are struggling with unplanned, rapid population growth, which has led to overcrowded cities.

“The problem isn’t just the growing number of people—it’s that we’ve had poor planning for hundreds of years,” he said, citing United Nations reports showing that over 75% of the world’s urban population lives in crowded areas with poor infrastructure.

He also raised the issue of informal housing, noting that more than one billion people around the world live in unsafe and unhealthy homes. This, he said, shows a deep failure in how housing and urban spaces are developed and managed.

In his closing remarks, Al Nuaimi stressed that sustainability is no longer optional—it’s a shared responsibility. He called for more integrated government policies, stronger regional and international cooperation, and greater innovation in urban design and construction to build cities that can withstand climate challenges and offer a safer, fairer future for everyone.

The conference sparked active discussions among participants about sustainability, smart building challenges, energy-efficient cooling systems, and how artificial intelligence can transform the way construction projects are managed. Experts also shared insights on how to meet green building standards like LEED certification.