High-performance buildings are moving from concept to execution in Saudi Arabia. That was the message from Sultan Sobhi Batterjee, Chairman and CEO of IHCC and GREENER by IHCC, during a fireside chat at Leaders in Construction: Saudi.
He argued that major projects, including the Red Sea developments, are embracing performance-driven design—but the sector must go further. The priority, he said, is connecting technology directly to the built environment, not just to back-office systems.
IHCC now embeds technology end-to-end, advancing from basic BIM to BIM 7D for design, estimation, construction, and as-built facility management. According to Sultan Sobhi Batterjee, the company’s model integrates engineering, construction, energy efficiency, and technology into a single delivery approach.
That shift is already producing measurable outcomes. Working with Tarsheed, a Public Investment Fund company, GREENER by IHCC delivered retrofits across 4,000 schools in Saudi Arabia with energy reductions of 30% to 40%, according to Sultan Sobhi Batterjee.
Batterjee also expects building performance to become a C-suite priority. He said executives will soon monitor building dashboards just as they track CRMs and ERPs
, because energy platforms can cut costs by 40% to 50%, according to Sultan Sobhi Batterjee.
This evolution changes the contractor’s role. IHCC has moved beyond EPC to a high-performance builder—where air-tightness testing, automation, and integration with facility management are core project layers, not add-ons.
The opportunity is significant but requires investment and cultural change. Vision 2030 provides the momentum for scaling innovation across the kingdom’s built environment, he noted.
Looking ahead, AI and IoT will power continuous monitoring, predictive maintenance, and smarter operations. The goal is buildings that deliver value to owners and occupants while advancing national sustainability targets.
Batterjee’s throughline: intelligent teams drive smart designs, and smart designs unlock technology-enabled sustainability. The future of Saudi construction is integrated, data-led, and performance-focused.
