- The rise of skyscrapers across the Middle East is increasing pressure on developers to improve fire safety systems
- This comes as cities pursue taller, smarter and more sustainable buildings
- As skylines continue to expand across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, developers are facing issues around water pressure management
The rise of skyscrapers across the Middle East is increasing pressure on developers to improve fire safety systems as cities pursue taller, smarter and more sustainable buildings.
The region now ranks third globally for total tall buildings and is home to the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, which stands at 828 metres. Less than two decades ago, the UAE had only one building taller than 150 metres.
But with growth, challenges come.
As skylines continue to expand across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, developers are facing issues around water pressure management, fire system reliability and long-term operational sustainability in high-rise environments.
Industry experts say one of the most critical issues involves maintaining sufficient water pressure throughout increasingly tall buildings, particularly in desert climates where municipal water supplies often operate at relatively low-pressure levels.
In the UAE, for example, municipal water systems commonly operate at around 0.8 bars, while residential systems generally require between two and five bars, and fire safety systems such as sprinklers may require pressures of up to 12 bars.
To bridge this gap, many developers are introducing secondary water supplies, including dedicated tanks and pumps, to ensure critical systems such as fire sprinklers and fire pumps remain operational at higher elevations.
However, experts warn that large pressure differences between municipal and secondary water supplies can create significant strain on fire protection infrastructure, increasing the risk of over-pressurisation, equipment failure or insufficient water delivery during emergencies.
