KPMG Partners to Expand FAST-Infra Label in Middle East
The firm will promote sustainable infrastructure certification to increase international capital confidence for regional projects.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Middle East
Live Poll
Do you believe standardized sustainability labels increase trust in large infrastructure projects?
KPMG has joined forces with the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation and FAST-Infra to implement a sustainability certification program across the Middle East. The partnership aims to provide consistent infrastructure assessment standards for governments, developers, and financiers.
Why it matters
Investors in the Middle East are increasingly demanding verified evidence of project resilience and sustainability. The collaboration seeks to address the regional lack of standardized infrastructure assurance protocols.
The FAST-Infra Label utilizes 100 existing standards and 14 specific criteria to evaluate infrastructure projects. To date, labelled projects across 30 countries represent a total investment value of US$40 billion.
The players
KPMG
A global professional services firm that provides audit, tax, and advisory services to governments and major corporations.
Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation
A non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting sustainable and resilient infrastructure development globally.
FAST-Infra
A global initiative that provides a standardized label for sustainable infrastructure to encourage private investment.
The details
KPMG will integrate the certification criteria into project planning, financing, procurement, and reporting throughout the Middle East, including developments in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This initiative leverages a framework designed to assess environmental, social, and governance factors, along with long-term climate adaptation and resilience.
Timeline
The FAST-Infra Label launched at the 2025 World Economic Forum.
KPMG announced the partnership on October 29, 2026.
Travel Outlook
This initiative aligns with long-term economic strategies like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by establishing the necessary frameworks for large-scale development. It marks a shift toward standardized regional sustainability metrics, moving away from fragmented practices in the Middle East tourism and infrastructure sectors.
Travelers and stakeholders should note that upcoming major infrastructure projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia will increasingly operate under these standardized resilience criteria. This shift may lead to more consistent service quality and sustainability disclosures for new tourism and transport facilities.
The takeaway
The move toward standardized certification helps professionalize regional development and lowers the risk profile for international capital. Investors and planners should prepare for a future where sustainability data is as critical as financial projections for regional approval.
Further reading
For more information on regional development trends, visit the Middle East section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Consultancy-me.
Live Poll
Do you believe standardized sustainability labels increase trust in large infrastructure projects?
