ICC launches Building Safety Month 2025
The International Code Council (ICC), a leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions, has launched its 45th annual Building Safety Month campaign this month, underscoring its global commitment to safer and more sustainable construction.
The month-long initiative promotes the adoption and enforcement of up-to-date building codes and aims to improve public understanding of the various elements and professionals involved in creating safe and sustainable structures.
Under the theme "Game On!", the campaign encourages individuals, organisations, and communities to learn about and prioritise building safety. It seeks to encourage engagement at the local level in strengthening the built environment, particularly in rapidly growing regions such as the GCC countries.
The ICC stated that its ongoing investment in the GCC highlights the significance of consistent and enforceable building codes that adapt to technological advancements, climate challenges, and population growth.
As part of the campaign, the ICC will also observe the second annual International Building Safety Day (IBSD) on May 22, 2025. Established in 2024 with the support of 28 international organisations, IBSD emphasizes the crucial role of building safety in health, well-being, and economic stability. The day serves as an annual call for governments, policymakers, and industry professionals to prioritize safety in all communities.
As part of the campaign, ICC will also observe the second annual International Building Safety Day (IBSD) on May 22, 2025. Established in 2024 with support from 28 international organizations, IBSD highlights the profound impact building safety has on health, well-being and economic stability. The day serves as an annual call to action for governments, policymakers and industry professionals to prioritize safety in every community, it added.
Mohamed Amer, Managing Director of ICC MENA, stated, 'ICC MENA's mission has always been to strengthen the safety and integrity of buildings while supporting the region's extraordinary pace of development. As cities across the GCC continue to grow vertically and technologically, the importance of compliance with unified, robust building codes becomes even more essential, not only to protect lives and property but to drive sustainable and inclusive growth.'
'Building safety is not a one-time action; it's a continuous commitment that involves government leaders, private-sector innovators and community stakeholders. Through our advocacy and partnerships, we aim to create a culture of safety that lasts for generations.
'We are proud to be participating in multiple regional events across the full ecosystem of building safety, and we're pleased to see growing momentum around both Building Safety Month and IBSD — a timely reminder of the shared responsibility and collective action needed to elevate safety standards across the built environment."
This year's weekly themes are:
• Week Two (May 4–10): "Build Your Offence" — Strategies to actively support, advocate and implement building safety policies.
• Week Three (May 11–17): "Build Your Defence" — Tools and planning techniques to prepare for natural disasters and hazards.
• Week Four (May 18–24): "The Starting Lineup" — Spotlighting the professionals who uphold safety and inspiring careers in the building sciences.
• Week Five (May 25–31): "Going into Overtime" — A forward look at emerging trends, technologies and innovations shaping global safety resilience.
Further details about Building Safety Month can be obtained at www.buildingsafetymonth.org
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Trade Arabia
8 hours ago
- Trade Arabia
MENA records 225 M&A deals worth $46bn in Q1
The MENA region witnessed 225 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals in Q1 2025, up from the 172 deals recorded in Q1 2024, reflecting a 31% increase in deal volume when compared year-on-year. Total deal value rose by 66% to $46 billion in Q1 2025, when compared to $27.6 billion in Q1 2024, said the latest EY MENA M&A Insights 2024 report. Cross-border deals were the primary driver of M&A activity in the MENA region, contributing 52% of total deal volume with 117 deals and 81% of total deal value at $37.3 billion. The first quarter of 2025 recorded the highest cross-border deal activity both in volume and value when compared to the same period in the past five years, as companies increasingly pursued growth and diversification beyond domestic markets. Brad Watson, MENA EY-Parthenon Leader, says: 'In 2024 we saw a steady flow of M&A deals and the MENA region continues to exhibit a robust influx of M&A transactions in 2025. This is supported by regulatory reforms, policy shifts, and a favorable macroeconomic outlook, including easing interest rates and improved investor sentiment.' 'This growth is also reflected in the steady increase of domestic M&A activity, which contributed 48% of total deal volume in Q1 2025. The rise in domestic M&A transactions aligns with the IMF projection that MENA GDP will grow by 3.6% this year and is further supported by the strong global M&A momentum. Companies are realigning their strategies to better accommodate the need for diversification, digital transformation, and the integration of emerging technologies.' In the MENA region, the UAE remained the top target country with 63 deals totaling $20.3 billion in Q1 2025. Kuwait ranked second in terms of deal proceeds, reaching $2.3 billion, driven by two major transactions in the Diversified Industrial Products and Power & Utilities sectors. During the first three months of 2025, Canada attracted the highest outbound deal value from MENA investors at $6.4 billion, while the US remained the preferred target destination in terms of deal volume. Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) like ADIA, PIF, and Mubadala, along with other government-related entities (GREs), remained key M&A drivers in Q1 2025, aligning with national economic strategies and diversification goals. Domestic M&A activity rise In the first quarter of 2025, M&A activity in the MENA region witnessed a 20% increase in deal volume while deal value rose significantly reaching $8.7 billion as compared to $1.69 billion recorded in Q1 2024. The technology sector led domestic M&A activity in MENA in Q1 2025, contributing 37% of total domestic deal value and 27% of total domestic deal volume. The largest domestic deal during the first quarter of the year was a $2.2 billion acquisition where Group 42, an Abu Dhabi based AI and cloud computing firm, agreed to acquire a 40% stake in Khazna Data Centres, a digital infrastructure provider. Intraregional deals involving the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia (KSA) accounted for 83% of total domestic deal value and 56% of total domestic deal volume, highlighting strong intraregional M&A activity, particularly in the technology, industrials, and real estate sectors. MENA region remains an attractive The MENA region continues to emerge as one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment during the first few months of 2025, with inbound deal volume surging by 21% and deal value reaching $17.6 billion, when compared to $2.5 billion in Q1 2024. The UAE remains the leading destination for foreign direct investment in the MENA region in Q1 2025, capturing 53% of total inbound deal volume and 99% of the total inbound deal value. Austria was the top investor country, accounting for 94% of total inbound deal value, largely driven by a major transaction in the chemicals sector. Diversification efforts During the first three months of 2025, outbound deal volume increased by 63% when compared to Q1 2024, with a total deal value of $19.7 billion, contributing 43% of overall deal value. The UAE and KSA led the outbound investment from the MENA region, accounting for 77% of total deal volume and 94% of total outbound value. Though chemicals and oil & gas dominated in outbound deal value, outbound deal volume was primarily focused on technology, diversified industrial products, and professional services. This trend reflects the region's broader diversification strategy into high-growth global sectors. The UK was the leading destination for outbound M&A deals from MENA by volume, recording 13 transactions in Q1 2025. Canada and Peru together contributed 50% of total outbound deal value driven primarily by a major transaction in Canada's chemical sector. ADNOC and Austria's OMV AG has agreed to acquire Canada's Nova chemicals for US$6.3b by holding 46.94% each in the newly formed Borouge International Group. Anil Menon, MENA EY-Parthenon Head of M&A and Equity Capital Markets Leader, says: 'The MENA deal markets remained resilient despite lack of clarity on two fronts: the impact of monetary policy on cost of capital and the ongoing tariff and trade discussions. The MENA deal book for the remainder of 2025 is promising and we can expect to see increased activity in consumer, technology, and energy sectors. In addition, with AI expected to drive material shifts in fundamental value, we can expect to see significant capital allocation in technology.' -TradeArabia News Service
Trade Arabia
13 hours ago
- Trade Arabia
Borouge and Alfred Talke win big at GPCA supply chain awards
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, has announced the winners of the 6th GPCA Supply Chain Excellence Awards, which took place at a star-studded award ceremony held in Dubai. Abu Dhabi–based petrochemicals company Borouge and Alfred Talke, a global leader in chemical logistics, and TruKKer, a key logistics and fleet management platform, have won big at the Awards along with DP Worls, Almajdouie & De Rijke Limited. A key highlight was the Women in Supply Chain Award which was clinched by Sara Alhababi of Sadara Chemical Company. The winners were presented the award during the 16th GPCA Supply Chain Conference held yesterday (May 27) at the Address Sky View Hotel, Dubai. The Awards were open to all regional chemical supply chain and logistics operators and providers, who have developed and integrated innovative and sustainable solutions in their operations. It attracted a total of 38 submissions from 20 companies across the GCC. An esteemed panel of judges comprising leading industry experts shortlisted finalists across four award categories: Supply Chain Innovation, Best LSP of The Year, Excellence in Sustainability, and Women in Supply Chain. The winners and finalists at this year's Awards are: Category 1: Supply Chain Innovation Award *Winner: Borouge for 'Value Chain Optimization and Digitalization of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Using AI' *Runner up: Almajdouie & De Rijke Limited Co. (MdR) for 'Operations and Maintenance of Radio Shuttle Racking System' Category 2: Best Logistics Service Provider (LSP) of the Year *Winner: Alfred Talke, a global leader in chemical logistics *Runner up: DP World Category 3: Excellence in Sustainability Award *Winner: TruKKer for 'Sustainable Logistics through Electric Truck Integration and Backhaul Optimization' *Runner up: Borouge for 'Reducing GHG emissions by transforming the Supply Chain Transportation Network' Category 4: Women in Supply Chain Award *Winner: Sara Alhababi, Sadara Chemical Company *Runner up: Alhanof Ahmed Al-Buainain, Sipchem Lauding the winners, Dr Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, said: "An inspiring ingenuity, great commitment to excellence, and dedication to advancing supply chain operations in the GCC were demonstrated across all nominations we received. "While there could be only one winner in each category, every nominee showcased outstanding achievement and hard work, reflecting the region's drive for supply chain excellence," he stated.
Daily Tribune
13 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
China Grants Visa-Free Entry to Bahraini Citizens Starting June 9
China has announced that it will implement a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from Bahrain, alongside Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait. The announcement was made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a press briefing on Wednesday. The visa exemption will come into effect from June 9, 2025, and will remain valid until June 8, 2026. Under this policy, citizens of Bahrain can enter China without a visa and stay for up to 30 days for purposes including business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchanges, and transit. Boosting Ties Between Bahrain and China This decision marks a major step forward in strengthening Bahrain-China bilateral relations and further reflects China's growing commitment to enhancing cooperation with Gulf nations. It also opens new avenues for Bahraini entrepreneurs, tourists, and students seeking greater access to the Chinese market and culture. Full Visa-Free Access for All GCC Countries With this latest inclusion, all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries now enjoy visa-free access to China. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar were granted the exemption earlier in 2018. According to Mao Ning, this complete visa-free coverage underscores China's strategic approach to deepening partnerships with the GCC bloc.
