The built environment is a significant contributor to global energy demand, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, where it accounts for roughly two-thirds of total energy consumption. The GCC region is known for its high per capita energy consumption, and addressing the building sector’s excessive energy use is crucial for a sustainable future. Despite efforts by GCC governments to encourage the adoption of building energy efficiency (BEE) measures, numerous barriers hinder their implementation and diffusion. This paper provides a comprehensive exploration of the barriers to BEE adoption in the GCC, identifying and categorizing 46 such barriers into six distinct clusters: governmental and institutional, economic and financial, technical and technological, capacity and awareness, social and cultural, and market and industry barriers. The study employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing content analysis to identify common themes and patterns in the data collected from various sources, including academic literature, government publications, and international agency reports. The findings underscore that while GCC states have the financial capacity to augment energy efficiency measures through a state-driven approach, they have yet to fully embrace these initiatives, largely due to low energy tariffs and the political dynamics of rentier states. To effectively address these barriers, the study argues for a holistic, interconnected approach that recognizes the government’s role in promoting energy efficiency and sustainability. The implications of this study are crucial for stakeholders, offering insights to facilitate the enhancement of BEE measures in the GCC’s existing and new buildings. By identifying and understanding the complex interplay of factors hindering BEE adoption, policymakers and organizations can develop targeted strategies and policies to overcome these barriers and foster a more sustainable built environment in the GCC region.
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