ACI’s Ahmad Mhanna Moderates Panel on “Defining Green” at Jeddah Construct 2025

10/7/2025

The 2025 edition of Jeddah Construct, one of the Middle East’s premier construction industry gatherings, featured a timely and thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Defining Green: Perspectives on Sustainability in Concrete Construction.” The session, moderated by Mr. Ahmad Mhanna, Director for the Middle East and North Africa Region at the American Concrete Institute (ACI), brought together experts from across the construction value chain to explore how the industry defines and delivers sustainable concrete solutions.

Panel participants included Dr. Ahmed Elyamani, Senior Structural Engineer at Dar; Mr. Mohamed Anber, Project Manager at Kabbani Construction Group; and Engr Ibraheem Qasra, Technical Manager at Transgulf Readymix Concrete Co. Together, they provided multidisciplinary insights, spanning engineering, materials, design, and construction, on the evolving definition of “green” in the built environment. The panelists explored what makes concrete sustainable, weighing the roles of low-carbon materials, innovative design, and on-site construction practices. The discussion also covered how ACI codes shape sustainable construction, the evolution of ready-mix concrete with low-carbon innovations, and the critical importance of collaboration across all project stages to balance sustainability with practical constraints.

Mr. Mhanna highlighted ACI’s commitment to advancing sustainable practices through standards, educational programs, and global collaboration. He also referenced ACI’s expanding portfolio of sustainability-focused documents and resources that guide engineers and practitioners toward best practices.

“Advancing resiliency and sustainability are key goals within ACI’s Strategic Plan,” said Mhanna. “To be responsible stewards of our world and to benefit future generations, ACI continues to help the industry define measurable, performance-based criteria for sustainability. And by integrating ACI’s technical expertise with local market realities, we can help ensure that ‘green concrete’ is credible and achievable.”

To learn more about Jeddah Construct, visit jeddahconstruct.com.

About the American Concrete Institute:

The American Concrete Institute (ACI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the leading global authority for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, and educational, training, and certification programs. Founded in 1904, ACI is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, with a regional office in Dubai, UAE, and Resource Centers located in Southern California, the Midwest (Chicago, IL area), and the Mid-Atlantic (Baltimore, MD area). ACI has more than 90 chapters, more than 350 student chapters, and approximately 40,000 members spanning more than 120 countries. The American Concrete Institute – Always advancing®. Visit concrete.org for additional information.