KPMG Middle East Partners with Global Infrastructure Basel and FAST-Infra to Promote Sustainable Infrastructure in Gulf

KPMG Middle East has partnered with the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB) and FAST-Infra to support the adoption of the FAST-Infra Label for sustainable and resilient infrastructure projects across the Middle East.

The partnership comes as Gulf countries accelerate investment in infrastructure under national development programmes, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s long-term economic strategies. Investments are expanding across areas such as new cities, transport networks, energy systems and water infrastructure.

As infrastructure development gathers pace, investors and project stakeholders are increasingly seeking consistent ways to demonstrate sustainability and resilience. The partnership aims to provide governments, developers and financiers across the region with a globally applicable framework for assessing infrastructure projects.

FAST-Infra Label provides global sustainability benchmark

The FAST-Infra Label was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2025 by the FAST-Infra Group, Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation and Bloomberg L.P.

The label is designed to assess infrastructure projects against sustainability and resilience criteria and is built on 100 existing standards. Projects are evaluated across four areas: environmental, social, governance, and adaptation and resilience.

The assessment covers 14 criteria, including nature protection, pollution prevention, workers’ rights, anti-corruption measures and climate resilience.

Since its launch, more than 390 projects across six continents have registered for the label, while 223 projects have completed their self-assessments. Labelled projects represent more than $40 billion in total investment across over 30 countries, according to the organisations.

KPMG to support adoption across infrastructure lifecycle

Under the partnership, KPMG Middle East will use its infrastructure advisory expertise to help governments, developers and financiers understand and adopt the FAST-Infra Label.

The collaboration will include integrating the label’s criteria into areas such as project planning, financing, procurement and reporting.

Fernando Faria, Partner and Head of Infrastructure at KPMG Middle East, said the region's infrastructure development would have a long-term impact on communities and economies.

“The FAST-Infra Label provides a credible, globally recognised answer, and we are proud to help bring it to a region where it can have a meaningful impact,” Faria said.

Louis Downing, CEO of the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation, said the partnership would provide stakeholders with support in applying the label and help establish a common benchmark for sustainable and resilient infrastructure across the region.

Label aims to support developers, investors and governments

The FAST-Infra Label is intended to provide benefits across different stages of the infrastructure investment cycle.

Developers can use the framework to strengthen sustainability practices and demonstrate project performance to potential investors. Investors and asset managers can apply the label throughout the investment lifecycle, including during project screening and reporting.

Governments can also use the framework when planning and procuring infrastructure projects, according to the organisations.

Projects can register for the FAST-Infra Label through its application portal and complete a self-assessment against the relevant criteria. Projects can subsequently undergo independent third-party verification to qualify for the FAST-Infra Verified Label.

The partnership comes as Gulf economies continue to expand infrastructure investment and seek frameworks that can support sustainability, resilience and greater consistency in project assessment.