Measuring Green Building Progress: EmiratesGBC’s Impact

This report highlights the UAE's environmental impact and how Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) has contributed to reducing the country's ecological footprint. It covers the evolution of the country's built environment, the demand and supply side, and the government's steps towards sustainability. It also delves into EmiratesGBC's initiatives and programs, partnerships, and how it has overcome challenges. The report concludes with a summary of the UAE's progress towards sustainability.

MEASURINGGREENBUILDINGPROGRESS:
EMIRATESGBC’S IMPACT
Emirates Green Building Council, 2014

Emirates Green Building Council | Measuring Green Building Progress
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Contents
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... v
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ v
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1
The UAE’s Environmental Impact ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1
The Living Planet Report (LPR) ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Analysis of UAE data from the GFN and LPR .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Background ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Evolution of the country's built environment .................................................................................................................................................... 3
The Demand and Supply Side ............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
The Government Steps Up ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Royal 'Green’ Decree .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau (RSB) for Electricity and Water ................................................................................................................. 5
Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 (DIES) ................................................................................................................................................... 5
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) .............................................................................................................................................................. 5
Ecological Footprint Initiative (EFI) ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Estidama .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Green Building Code (GBRS) ............................................................................................................................................................................... 7

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Masdar City ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
EPDA .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Other Initiatives .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) ........................................................................................................................................... 11
Mission and Vision ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Formation History ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
An Organization is Born ................................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Initial Development ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
The Board ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Technical Committee .................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
ISO Certification ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 13
Partnerships .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Organizational Hierarchy .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Board ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Staff ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Memberships .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Distribution List ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Public Relations ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15
EmiratesGBC Initiatives & Programs ................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ...................................................................................................................................................... 16
Cooperative Agreements with Governmental Organizations ...................................................................................................................... 18

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EmiratesGBC Energy Efficiency Program ...................................................................................................................................................... 18
Green Key Program ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
EmiratesGBC Events .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Annual Congress ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Annual Awards .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Networking Events ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 20
Training Programs ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Conferences and Exhibitions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Seminars, Workshops, and Focus Forums .................................................................................................................................................... 22
Building tours ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Workshops .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Overcoming Challenges .................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Economic Crisis ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Strategic Restructuring ................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Market Uptake .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
References ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25

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List of Figures
Figure 1 A comparison of the ecological footprint of countries based on data obtained in 2003 and 2009. ....................................................... 2
Figure 2. Decision tree which depicts the chain of environmentally sustainable policy reforms developed by the UAE Govt. ........................... 7
Figure 3. The different stakeholders EmiratesGBC serves to connect within the region. ................................................................................... 11
Figure 4. Breakdown of EmiratesGBC corporate members by industry. ............................................................................................................. 14
Figure 5 Growth of EmiratesGBC's Corporate and Individual Members .............................................................................................................. 15
Figure 6 Growth in subscriptions to EmirateGBC's mailing list in relation to announcements/newsletters published by the Council .............. 15
Figure 9 Attendance at other events hosted by EmiratesGBC (Focus Groups, Seminars, and Building Tours). .................................................. 22
Figure 10 Attendance at monthly EmiratesGBC workshops ................................................................................................................................ 23
List of Tables
Table 2. A summary of initiatives taken by the UAE Government, their mission, and their goals. ....................................................................... 9
Table 3. List of EmiratesGBC strategic partnerships established through MOUs and the year they were established. ..................................... 17
Table 4. Total number of attendees at EmiratesGBC hosted training programs. ................................................................................................ 20

Emirates Green Building Council | Measuring Green Building Progress
Introduction
1
Introduction
The UAE’s Environmental Impact
n 2006, the Living Planet Report (LPR) 1 ranked the United Arab
Emirates as the country with the highest per capita Ecological
Footprint in the world. In its latest report published in 2014, Living
Planet listed the UAE as having the third-highest Ecological
Footprint, per capita.
The United Arab Emirates’ ranking down in the World
Wildlife Federation's (WWF) globally referenced list in a span of
eight years is backed by an interesting story that needs to be
retold. It showcases a remarkable initiative taken by the UAE
government and its administrative sector, and the numerous
forums and institutes that have subsequently launched, including
the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC). These
initiatives have eventually worked to push environmental
conservation to the forefront of the UAE's policy making agenda
resulting in conservation goals now working in tandem with
agendas that pertain to economic growth.
1 For this report we will use the LPR's index as the guiding benchmark as it has
been cited more often in the UAE, and as of 2014, is the only Index which
provides a carbon footprint for the UAE.
From the many institutions and organizations that have
arisen since 2006, EmiratesGBC has secured a credible place
within the sustainable thinking realm, by strategically fulfilling its
mission to serve as an educator, and as a platform of knowledge
exchange for all sectors within the building industry which
influence the country’s ecological footprint. Hence, this report
aims to highlight how a) policy efforts at the federal level and b)
EmiratesGBC’s organizational activities have collectively impacted
the building industry, building market awareness, and inspiring
business decisions which have notably contributed towards the
reduction of UAE’s ecological footprint.
The Living Planet Report (LPR)
LPR's ecological footprint index was originally developed by
the UNEP and is now published bi-annually by the WWF. The index
is a science-based analysis of the health of the planet and the
effect human activity has on this health. The Ecological Footprint
as an index was originally developed by the Global Footprint
Network (GFN)2. It functions as an accounting system which:
"...tracks, on the demand side (footprint), how much land and
water area a human population uses to provide all it takes from
nature. This includes the areas for producing the resource it
consumes, the space for accommodating its buildings and roads,
and the ecosystems for absorbing its waste emissions such as
2 The Global Footprint Network (GFN) is a major think tank which provides
carbon footprint calculations for 150 nations. The organization also aims to
standardize the science of ecological footprint calculations. The GFN provided
the data and the calculations for the LPR index.
I

Emirates Green Building Council | Measuring Green Building Progress
Background
2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2003 (gha) 2009 (gha)
Ecological Footprint 2003 and 2009*
World Average UAE USA Qatar† Kuwait Finland
carbon dioxide. These calculations account for each year’s
prevailing technology, as productivity and technological efficiency
change from year to year. The accounting system also tracks the
supply of nature: it documents how much biologically productive
area is available to provide these services (biocapacity). Therefore,
these accounts are able to compare human demand against
nature’s supply of biocapacity."
Analysis of UAE data from the GFN and LPR
According to the 2006 LPR report, the average UAE
resident had an Ecological Footprint of 11.8 gha, ranking it as the
highest in the world. In 2010, that number was down to 10.68 gha.
In 2012, this footprint had shrunk to 8.4 gha (based on data
collected in 2008). In 2010, the UAE had successfully reduced its
footprint to 7.7 gha, as reflected in the latest 2014 LPR. 3 For the
first time since the 2006 ranking, and still currently holding, the
UAE does not have the highest Ecological Footprint in the world.
Thanks to concerted national efforts, it has been superseded. 4
(See Figure 1).
While the Ecological Footprint of a country is a good
indicator of individual demand averaged over a country's
population, it is typically compared against the region's
biocapacity5. In 2008, the UAE's biocapacity was recorded at 0.6
3 LPR summary, 2014
4 LPR, 2006, 2010, 2012
5 LPR summary, 2012
† Qatar was not included in the 2006 LPR report (2003 data) as its population was
less than one million.
gha per person and given that this number did not vary in the
2012 report - this indicates that even though the Ecological
Footprint has reduced, the country’s relatively stationary
biocapacity level shows that the average UAE resident is largely
dependent on other nations for all the resources it imports and
not on its natural resources.
Background
The United Arab Emirates was founded on December 2,
1971. It is a country composed of harsh, arid terrain with very little
natural resources, biodiversity, and population. However, the land
had tremendous wealth deep underground in the form of a non-
renewable energy source known as crude oil, the discovery of
Figure 1 A comparison of the ecological footprint of countries based on data
obtained in 2003 and 2009.

Emirates Green Building Council | Measuring Green Building Progress
Background
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which is credited with having led to the country's formation. Fast
forward twenty years and the UAE had already become a well-
established supplier of crude oil in the burgeoning global market.
Since the 90s, it has continued to effectively capitalize on its
hydrocarbon wealth experiencing remarkable economic growth as
well as improvements in the quality of life for its growing
population.
Evolution of the country's built
environment
The history of UAE's development involves a steady
trajectory of growth and progress in nearly every sector of urban
development. The new market void was rapidly filled up by the
exponential growth in the country’s population leading to further
growth in the industrial and service sectors. It is estimated that
between 1965 and 2013, the UAE's population increased by
6280%, with 85% of its residents residing in urban developments
and situated mainly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.6
The Demand and Supply Side
The demand of a growing population coupled with demand
for a high standard of living also enabled UAE's economy to build a
strong niche in the service and tourism sector which flourished
and led to the construction of several shopping malls, centers, and
entertainment venues, particularly within the Emirates of Dubai
6 Dubaifaqs; World Bank 2014 Doing Business Report; World Bank Urban
population %, 2012.
and Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the population's need for housing
was also tied with the need for schools, hospitals, roads, and
transportation facilities, resulting in a development boom that has
seen steady upward growth for several years. Over time several
Emirates have undergone a thorough transformation: from arid
desert to a "political, economic, and financial success story".
With respect to energy, the hot and humid climate has led
to round-the-clock cooling needs, made possible only by extensive
production of electricity. Average international consumption of
energy is 15kwh per day, whereas in contrast a UAE resident can
use up to 20-30 kwh in a day. 7 In addition, the region's dry climate
also meant that desalination plants needed to be installed along
the coast in order to meet the demand for domestic water. This
demand coupled with the addition of a new and growing
aluminum smelting industry meant a further increase in demand
for precious energy. The average individual consumption of water
internationally is 170-300 liters a day; the average UAE resident on
the other hand uses up to 550 liters of potable water per day.8
Coupling this rate of development with minimal resources and
crude oil as the source of energy, it is not surprising that the UAE
developed a large Ecological Footprint while its biocapacity lagged
behind disproportionately.
The synergistic growth outlined above and the ensuing
demand for water and energy has shown that over the years,
while the UAE experienced remarkable financial prosperity, its
environment and local resources were put under immense strain,
7 Kader, 2014
8 Kader, 2014

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The Government Steps Up
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especially as environmental regulations in the country remained
nonexistent through several decades of development. A change
was needed as global organizations such as the UN and World
Bank increasingly called for more precedence of environmentally
sustainable practices within urban sectors. 9 This change was soon
forthcoming in the UAE also as leaders grew more aware of the
environmental and economic consequences of business-as-usual
growth. Several initiatives were subsequently generated and are
outlined in the next section.
The Government Steps Up
From 2006 to 2013, the UAE government has taken several
initiatives to uphold a new legacy of sustainable development and
construction in the country. The maintained goal is to reduce the
country's carbon footprint by diversifying its energy sources and
by initiating numerous programs and organizations that
collaborate to develop frameworks and policies which effectively
actualize these goals. The following is a list of several important
agencies and policies initiated by the UAE government and
primarily by the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai:
Royal 'Green’ Decree
In October 2007, the ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued a decree that all new
urban structures would conform to environmentally-friendly green
9 UNEP; World Bank Sustainable Development overview, 2014.
building standards – even though the country had no such green
building standards yet established.10 Targets were also laid out
which included that all buildings would have to reduce baseline
water and energy usage by 30% and reduce lighting costs by 9%11.
In January 2008, at the World Future Energy Summit, HH
Sheikh Mohammad announced that the UAE would invest $15
billion to promote green energy. This entailed a widespread
education and awareness campaign that would highlight different
renewable sources of energy the country could effectively adopt.
Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE)
The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy was formed in 2009
under Law 19 issued by HH Sheikh Maktoum to serve as a
governing body that would authorize policy, planning and
coordination of concerned authorities and energy bodies to
deliver new energy sources and diversify Dubai's energy sector
which was set in motion by the Royal Decree. DSCE ensures that
governed parties employ a balanced approach to protecting the
environment as they implement the policies.
Thus far, DSCE's primary vision has been to make Dubai a
global role model in energy security and efficiency by
outperforming the rest of the world. In other words, DSCE's goal is
to work in strong collaboration with all other government sectors
and ensure that Dubai's economy continues to grow while it
moves towards the use of more sustainable energy.
10 Construction Weekly Online, 2008.
11 Mayo, 2010.

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The Government Steps Up
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Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau (RSB)
for Electricity and Water
The Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau (RSB) was
established in 2010 as the functional offshoot of DSCE. Under HH
Sheikh Maktoum's Executive Council's Directive, Dubai's RSB has
been tasked with independently regulating the energy and water
sector in Dubai. RSB functions by setting standards, controlling and
supervising all licensed properties operating in the field of energy
and water. RSB's mission is to secure a sustainable future for its
diversified electricity and water supplies.
In February 2014, RSB further developed a regulatory
framework intended to support the energy service market. This
process has comprised of an accreditation scheme for Energy
Service Companies (ESCOs), a protocol for measuring and verifying
energy and water savings, and a tailored approach to resolving
disputes.12
Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030
(DIES)
The Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy (DIES) 2030 was
catalyzed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's
Royal Decree (see above) and was developed into a framework by
2010. DSCE was authorized to preside over the Strategy. DIES
2030 was eventually deployed in 2011 where it lay down the
essential policy mandate that Dubai needed to redirect its
12 RSB website: http://rsb.gov.ae/
development goals. As part of the Strategy, monetary
advancement in Dubai would also incorporate strategies that
secured a sustainable supply of energy from renewable sources. In
addition, DSCE would also enhance the efficiency in demand for
this energy, which later manifested as the Energy Performance
Contracting mechanism.13
Under DIES 2030, a successful Public-Private Partnership
venture has already resulted in the construction of the first Solar
Park in Dubai, which is expected to reach full capacity of 1000 MW
by 2030.14
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC)
Under the directive of DIES 2030, and initiated by the
Dubai Energy & Water Authority (DEWA) and DSCE, Etihad ESCO
was established in Autumn of 2013 as an energy and service
company that would spearhead the burgeoning Energy
Performance Contracting (EPC) market in Dubai. The framework
for the new EPC market was developed by RSB (see above) and is
expected to improve the energy efficiency of nearly 30,000
existing buildings in Dubai by 10-40%, depending on the age and
design of the structures.
Energy Performance Contracting is a mechanism which
promotes energy efficiency in a building at no cost to the owner,
with project financing arranged by the ESCO. The mechanism is
effective when there is a strong collaboration between the
13 DSCE website, (see footnote 23)
14 Power&water, 2012; Bitar, 2014; Solar Energy in Dubai, n.d.

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The Government Steps Up
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government, building owners, finance providers, and energy
service companies.
Ecological Footprint Initiative (EFI)
Alongside the 2007 ‘Green’ Decree and within a year after
publication of the 2006 LPR, several UAE government agencies and
NGOs embarked on an ambitious goal to dissect its Ecological
Footprint, determine its components, measure its effect, and
remedy excess however best it could. An offshoot of this initiative
was the project named Al Basma Al Beeiyah Initiative or the
Ecological Footprint Initiative (EFI) and was launched in October
2007 by the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW), the
Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Wildlife Society in
association with WWF (EWS-WWF), and the Global Footprint
Network (GFN). [see footnote 3 on page 2]
From the outset, the EFI stated its mission in simple terms:
“a national effort to ensure a sustainable future by measuring and
understanding the impact of our ways of living on planet earth.” 15
The Initiative is still ongoing and has already moved through key
stages with progress made in various sectors, the results of which
were eventually reflected in the 2012 LPR ranking. What is unique
about UAE's EFI is that the UAE government resolved to invest in
scientific solutions to mitigate and offset its carbon footprint.
15 EFI, 2010
As a result of this assessment, the EFI, in cooperation with
other organizations such as ESMA, realized and published the UAE
Lighting Standard in December 2013 with an implementation time
set from January to July 2014. The standard promotes mandated
reduction in sales of incandescent lamps and indoor light bulbs,
and ensures that the market is well supplied with energy-efficient,
safe, high-quality light products, and provides solutions for their
safe disposal.
Estidama
Estidama, which means “sustainability” in Arabic, was
launched by Abu Dhabi's Urban Planning Council (UPC) in 2008 as
part of the emirate’s 2030 General Plan. Estidama devised the
Pearl Rating System, which establishes a region-specific
sustainability criteria that addresses all aspects of sustainable
building construction starting from the design phase all the way
through to end user operational stage. The Pearl Rating System is
offered for community, building, and individual villa construction.
Abu Dhabi's Executive Council Order of May 2010 mandated all
new buildings must achieve a minimum 1 Pearl certification, and
all government funded buildings must achieve a minimum of 2
Pearls. This sets high standards of quality and performance for all
new projects in the Emirate.
The Pearl Rating System takes sustainability a level higher
than other rating systems by addressing sustainability goals via a
quadruple bottom-line, as opposed to a triple bottom-line: the
environment, the economics, people and culture.

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The Government Steps Up
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Figure 2. Decision tree which depicts the chain of environmentally sustainable policy
reforms developed by the UAE Govt.
Green Building Code (GBRS)
Dubai's Green Building Code also referred to as Dubai's
Green Building Regulations and Specifications (GBRS) was initiated
in 2010 by Dubai Municipality and DEWA and was mandated for all
new construction in March 2014. Starting with HH Sheikh
Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Green Decree, the idea for a
more rigorous and region-specific sustainable construction criteria
in the emirate was quickly adopted by Dubai Municipality and
integrated into its General Plan, also known as the Dubai Strategic
Plan 2015. The Code is considered key to achieving the goal of
making Dubai one of the top 20 sustainable cities in the world by
the year 202016.
Masdar City
It is estimated that in 2007, the Abu Dhabi government
invested approximately $15 billion to start up Masdar City. From
the outset, the project has been an ambitious move to create the
world's first carbon-neutral and zero-waste human settlement - a
sustainable, mixed-use development that would function as
residence, research institute, and a commercial investment hub
for technological innovation. The City is still under construction;
however parts which are occupied are functioning with a very low
footprint thanks to clever design techniques which cool outdoor
and indoor space and minimize the need for air-conditioning.17
Masdar currently houses the Masdar Institute of Science
and Technology (MIST) which is strongly affiliated with the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). As a research hub,
MIST is at pace to become a leading global institution for cutting-
edge environmental technologies. As planned, the role of Masdar
City is to provide innovative solutions that will expedite the
country's goals to reduce its footprint.
EPDA
Ras Al Khaimah developed its Environmental Protection
and Development Authority (EPDA) in 2007. The entity is focused
16 Construction Weekly, 2014.
17 The Economist. Masdar Plan. 2008.
Abu Dhabi
UPC Abu Dhabi
Vision 2030 Estidama
Masdar City
Dubai Royal
Decree
DSCE
RSB
EPC (ESCO)
DIES
EFI
GBRS
Ras Al
Khaimah EPDA
Policy
Agency

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The Government Steps Up
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on the protection and development of the emirate’s environment
while also promoting economic development and human health. 18
The EPDA has also focused on research creating a lab equipped to
measure and test air quality and the long term effects of
underground pumping. The EPDA has also initiated outreach and
awareness campaigns within the emirate, and is working towards
the modification of existing building and construction codes.
Other Initiatives
EEG
The Emirates Environmental Group which was formed in
1991, is the world’s first ISO 14001 certified environmental non-
profit organization and non-business signatory in the UN Global
Compact. The EEG is also affiliated with several members of the
UAE government, and is a strong advocate for the environmental
education of UAE residents and for the establishment of
nationwide sustainable programs. On the local front, the
organization has developed an extensive palette of waste
management campaigns recycling all post-consumer products
which are recyclable in the UAE, including mobile phones,
batteries, and printer toners.
Trakhees
In 2008, The Jebel Ali Free Zone established a Department of
Planning and Development (Trakhees), which was designed to
serve as a regulatory arm for the issuance of building permits,
18 http://epda.fi-demo.com/uploader/general%20abstract.pdf
commercial licensing, and for the supervision of engineering and
all health, environmental and safety related matters within the
Free Zone. Using Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s
2007 Decree as a foundational guide, Trakhees incorporated
several LEED credits into its own building assessment system,
setting the baseline construction standard in the Free Zone to
LEED Silver.
EWS-WWF
The Emirates Wildlife Society and its collaboration with
WWF was established in the UAE in 2001, and is under the
patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In addition
to their valuable conservation efforts, in 2007, EWS-WWF was
pivotal in the formation of the Environmental Footprint Initiative
(EFI).
Sustainable Schools Initiative
The Initiative (Al Madaris Al Mustadama) which operates in
Abu Dhabi only, was started by the Environment Agency Abu
Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Education Council in September 200819.
The Initiative imparts a lasting educational experience for young
learners, with lessons on the indicators of sustainability, hands-on
experience - children are encouraged to plant and nurture their
own food garden – and also facilitates a social forum for students
where they can empower themselves further with meaningful en-
vironmental activities and projects.
19 Heroes of the UAE, 2009.

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Government Steps Up
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Table 1. A summary of initiatives taken by the UAE Government, their mission, and their goals.
Sustainable Initiatives Year Mission & Goals
Royal Decree 2007 The royal mandate was the first initiative of its kind in the country. The
Decree ordered that energy efficiency and sustainability be incorporated
into all sectors of development.
Ecological Footprint Initiative (EFI) 2007 This initiative seeks to measure and understand the impact the residents
of the UAE have on the planet. The results have led to new efficient
lighting standards that are currently being implemented.
Masdar City 2007 Abu Dhabi's revolutionary project is home to Masdar Institute of Science
and Technology (MIST) which works in close conjunction with MIT, USA.
The city is designed to be the first zero-carbon human settlement and its
onsite research facility is expected to expedite UAE's carbon footprint
reduction goal by facilitating breakthrough technological innovation in
energy, water, and waste management sectors.
EPDA 2007 A smaller entity created by the Ras Al Khaimah government, the EPDA
promotes the protection of the Emirate’s environment and additionally
also provides a platform of scientific and economic development to
further environmental conservation.
Esitdama 2008 A rigorous approach towards sustainable planning and construction, the
Estidama and its Pearl Rating System is part of Abu Dhabi's vision for a
sustainably developed emirate by the year 2030. The Pearl Rating System
is the only established green construction criteria which comprehensively
addresses new villa (residential) construction.

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Government Steps Up
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Dubai Supreme Council of Energy 2009 DSCE was developed to function as a regulatory authority which would
facilitate diversification of Dubai's energy sector, and authorize policy,
planning & coordination of energy bodies. The Authority is in charge of
developing alternative and renewable energy sources for the emirate as
well as increasing energy efficiency to reduce demand.
Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau (RSB) 2010 The RSB serves under the DSCE as an independent regulator of electricity
and water facilities in Dubai. RSB's role is to secure stable and sustainable
sources of energy for Dubai. The Bureau is also responsible for creating
the EPC framework taken over by ESCO providers across the emirates.
Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030
(DIES)
2010 The DIES 2030 functions as a policy which further establishes the Decree
goals. The Strategy is authorized by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy
and aims to a) redirect Dubai's source of energy by enhancing the market
for energy compliance and b) to reduce overall demand for energy in the
emirates.
Green Building Code 2010 Dubai's Green Building Codes is mandatory for all new construction in the
UAE. Initial compliance reports have already shown a 43% reduction in
energy usage and a 15% reduction in water usage. The code is expected
to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.
Other National Initiatives 1991
1998
2001
2008
EEG
Trakhees
EWS-WWF
Sustainable Schools Initiative

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
11
The Emirates Green Building
Council (EmiratesGBC)
Mission and Vision
The EmiratesGBC was formed in 2006 with the goal of
advancing green building principles in the UAE that would help to
protect the environment and promote sustainability. Since its
inception, the Council has evolved its mission and vision and today
the EmiratesGBC functions as a common platform for all
stakeholders (see Fig. 3) in the building industry supply chain,
whereby they can meet, discuss, interact, and exchange
groundbreaking ideas and help promote a sustainable built
environment. Essentially, EmiratesGBC serves the UAE as:
a) A prime driver and facilitator of UAE's position and aspiration to
be a global leader for sustainability in the built environment and,
b) A catalyst for collaboration and a hub to promote sustainability
of the built environment in the UAE.
Goals a) and b) comprise EmiratesGBC’s Vision and Mission
respectively.
Figure 3. The different stakeholders EmiratesGBC serves to connect within the region.
Formation History
In 2002 and 2003, significant changes began to occur
within the UAE: the steady growth and development of the
previous decades had sped up suddenly and at an unprecedented
level. Massive construction projects were taking hold of available
land and towering skyscrapers were sprouting quickly along the
Sheikh Zayed Road– development projects ranged from dense
urban sub-cities such as the Dubai Marina area, to sparse high-end
residential districts such as Downtown Dubai and the Arabian
Ranches. In nearly two years, Sheikh Zayed Road had grown a
skyline relatively “overnight”.
EGBC
Local
Authorites
Corporate &
Local
Authorites
AcademiaCommunites
Building
Industry

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
12
An Organization is Born
As a result of the rapid development, Emirates
Environmental Group (EEG) embarked on an outreach campaign
and organized community meetings that featured talks from
various industry representatives who were similarly motivated
about sustainable green building design and construction. The
discussions that took place during these meetings eventually
seeded the concept of a Green Building Committee within the
EEG. However, ideas quickly began to evolve, promising to
offshoot into something larger and more substantial. The need for
a more focused institution was evident from the outset and a
collective motivation existed to form a green building council.
Initial Development
Emirates Green Building Council was established with
founding members providing strong logistical and financial
support. A professional license was obtained via the Dubai
Department of Economic Development (DED) in July 2006 and the
EmiratesGBC bylaws were produced.
The effort to streamline the organization’s logistics
culminated with the official launch of EmiratesGBC in July 2006 – a
fledgling operation but one that had already generated substantial
buzz in the construction and design industry.
The Board
With the first official Board meeting held in 2006, the next
step was for the Board to utilize the momentum of interest from
within the industry and embark on an extensive outreach
campaign to engage companies in membership. Most leading
companies within the UAE construction industry were approached
including developers, material providers, MEP practitioners, as
well as financial institutions.
Technical Committee
Soon after its launch, in 2007, a Technical and Award
Committee comprising architects, designers, and engineers was
set up by the Council to evaluate the applicability of a green
building rating system adapted to suit the weather conditions in
the UAE. The Committee preferred to emulate the guidelines
established by LEED for New Construction. Consultations with the
US Green Building Council (USGBC) resulted in a prototype
guideline drafted as LEED Emirates. The draft was completed in
nine months and showcased the enthusiasm of its contributors,
while also pointing out the underlying impetus among local
professionals to rectify the obvious and egregious regulatory
oversight within the building industry that had led to a rise in the
UAE’s ecological footprint. The project never reached completion
as USGBC decided to change course and establish regional credits
instead.
As of the end of 2014, the EmiratesGBC is on course to complete
another set of Technical Guidelines which would provide energy
retrofitting solutions for existing buildings in the UAE. The
EmiratesGBC Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing
Buildings is a comprehensive set of instructions written by
volunteer EmiratesGBC members and partners that guide industry

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
13
professionals and end-users on the current processes,
technologies, and standards in place, for the successful energy
efficient retrofit of existing buildings.
The authors who have contributed to the Guidelines share strong
expertise and technical knowledge and their voluntary
participation affirms their personal and professional commitment
towards the green building industry and sustainability at large. The
Technical Guidelines are scheduled to be published in June 2015.
ISO Certification
EmiratesGBC obtained ISO Certification 9001-2008 and
14001-2004 in September 2011 and March 2013, respectively. This
step further cemented the credibility of the Council and built on its
already growing platform on the market.
Partnerships
Another major milestone obtained by the Council was the
establishment of partnerships which formed the training ground
through which the Council and its members currently enjoy a
myriad choice of educational activities and events, such as the
Technical Workshops, an Annual Congress, Focus Days and
Seminars, and its LEED and Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
Training events. Beneficial partnerships, such as with the British
University in Dubai, helped expand the Council's technical
offerings. A partnership with the Foundation for Environmental
Education (FEE) and EWS-WWF in 2013 established the Council as
the national operator for the Green Key Certification. Numerous
other partnerships with NGO’s, government authorities, and
academic institutions further strategically position the Council and
expand its reach and offerings.
Organizational Hierarchy
The organizational structure was laid out in the
EmiratesGBC bylaws and continues to serve as the framework in
which the Council operates. It is comprised of a Board, founding
members, and a membership scheme that was envisioned to grow
as the Council expanded its activities.

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
14
Architecture/
Design/Engin
eering Construction/
Contracting
Consulting
MEP/Facility
Management
Manufacturing
and
Supply
Other
Membership by Industry
Board
The EmiratesGBC Board of Directors is comprised of
founding members and organizations in the United Arab Emirates
that encompass a variety of sectors in the building industry. The
Board meets quarterly and oversees the overarching direction and
message of the Council.
Staff
Since 2011, the Council has experienced a steady growth in
its personnel. With its staff retention rates more stable and the
number of staff steadily increasing, the EmiratesGBC office has
been able to more effectively engage the Council’s members,
expand the programs offered, and produce more consistent
offerings. In its early development years, the office team
consisted only of an Operations Director and Executive Secretary.
Today the team also includes positions for Education &
Awareness, Membership & Marketing, and Technical Officers.
Memberships
The Emirates Green Building Council is a membership-
driven organization comprised of industry professionals dedicated
to green building solutions and practices. Since its inception in
2006, EmiratesGBC has experienced a growing membership pool.
Members include developers, consultants, engineers, architects,
interior designers, contractors, environmentalists, manufacturers,
suppliers, facilities/hospitality management, and financial
institutions, among others. Figure 4 below denotes a breakdown
of EmiratesGBC's members based on their various industries 20 as
of July 2014:
20 The EmiratesGBC corporate member breakdown by industry is not based on
exact percentages. The pie chart is based on close estimates taking into account
overlapping services provided by several member firms
Figure 4. Breakdown of EmiratesGBC corporate members by industry.

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
15
42 65100 132 113 118 124 139 150Growth in Corporate Memberships
2
40
26
36
51
37
43 48
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Growth in Individual Memberships
EmiratesGBC's Indvidual Members 280 745 1013 1339 1728 2531 3946
25
143 175 123 108
EmiratesGBC Subscriptions and Publications
Subscribers to Distribution List
Announcements/ Newsletters
42
65
130
93
113 118
124
140 152
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Growth in Corporate Memberships
EmiratesGBC's Corporate Members
Figure 6 Growth in subscriptions to EmirateGBC's mailing list in relation to
announcements/newsletters published by the Council
Distribution List
In addition to its corporate members, EmiratesGBC enjoys
exposure to a growing base of subscribers who have opted to
receive news and updates from the Council. This includes non-
members, regional and global green building councils, and other
interested industry representatives from the Middle East & North
Africa (MENA) region, and around the globe. Figure 6 (below)
depicts the rise in subscription rates by members and non-
members expressing interest in information published by
EmiratesGBC.
Public Relations
Figure 5 Growth of EmiratesGBC's Corporate and Individual Members

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
16
Public relations have been an important tool used to help
widen the exposure of the EmiratesGBC. Since engaging Asdaa as
the PR partner in 2011, EmiratesGBC has been featured
extensively by local and regional trade media entities and dailies
including Construction Week, BGreen, Arab Water World, and UAE
today, to name just a few. Topics that are given coverage include
interviews and news updates of EmiratesGBC events and
initiatives. Press releases have broadened from mostly event
announcements to now more technical and informative topics.
EmiratesGBC Initiatives & Programs
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Since 2008, EmiratesGBC has reached out and forged
strategic partnerships in the region by retaining MOUs with
several governmental and non-governmental entities. In addition
to the agreement and cooperation of its partners who express
support and advocate for EmiratesGBC's long and short-term
goals, the MOUs have also served to build the necessary
groundwork of environmentally motivated initiatives that can
eventually scale up to the federal level and be translated into new
regulations and policies. See Table 3 below.

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
17
The following table lists all parties that have signed MOU's with EmiratesGBC:
Current EmiratesGBC MOUs
Government Semi-Government NGOs Academia Media Service Exchange
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning
Council (UPC)
2012
Dubai Carbon Center
of Excellence (DCCE)
2011
Dubai Chamber of Commerce
& Industry – Center for
Responsible Business
2008
British University in Dubai
(BUiD)
2008
Trade Link Media
(Southeast Asia
Building)
2012
KPMG
2011
Emirates Standardization
& Metrology Authority
(ESMA)
2013
Masdar
2011
Emirates Environment Group
(EEG)
2011
Rochester Institute of
Technology - Dubai
2014
Galadari Advocates
2014
Dubai Central Laboratory
2014
Middle East Facilities
Management Association
(MEFMA)
2011
American University of
Sharjah
2014
Ajman Municipality
2014
Emirates Wildlife Society –
WWF (EWS-WWF)
2012
Ministry of Public Works
2014
Foundation for Environmental
Education (FEE)
2013
Abu Dhabi Quality Control
Council (ADQCC)
2014
French Business Council
2013
Table 2. List of EmiratesGBC strategic partnerships established through MOUs and the year they were established.

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
18
Cooperative Agreements with Governmental
Organizations
In addition to partnering MOUs with several governmental
and non-governmental entities, EmiratesGBC also has informal
cooperative relationships with the following organizations:
 Dubai Municipality  Dubai Supreme Council of
Energy
 Regulatory and Supervisory
Bureau
 Etihad ESCO
 RAK EPDA  Abu Dhabi Dept. of Municipal
Affairs
EmiratesGBC Energy Efficiency Program
Research conducted by the Inter Governmental Panel for
Climate Change (IPCC) found that improving the efficiency of
existing buildings has the highest potential for cost effective
reductions in carbon emissions. With a relatively small industrial
sector, the majority of electricity consumption in the UAE occurs in
buildings with estimates of 80% of total electricity consumption
attributable to buildings widely cited.
As a response, the Emirates Green Building Council created
a taskforce of industry experts to identify the major challenges
that inhibit the widespread implementation of energy efficiency
projects in buildings in the UAE and proposed approaches that can
be taken to overcome these challenges.
On December 16, 2014, EmiratesGBC officially launched its
Energy Efficiency Program (EEP). A program that includes an online
database and service that serves to connect all stakeholders in the
energy efficiency market and streamline the fragmented energy
retrofit industry. Through the EEP, energy consultants will more
effectively connect with contractors, equipment vendors, facility
management companies, banks, insurance companies and other
players in the private sector.
Green Key Program
Green Key is an international sustainability certification
program for hotels and accommodations that is managed by the
Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). EmiratesGBC is the
national operator of the Green Key certification in the United Arab
Emirates since 2013. Green Key is recognized by the World
Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment
Program (UNEP), and is the largest global eco-label relating to
accommodation.
As of July 2014, EmiratesGBC has audited and awarded 24
four- and five-star hotels with the Green Key certification, while
other hotel properties have shown interest in participating in the
program. EmiratesGBC is well on its way to growing the
certification program in the UAE and encouraging hotels to take
part in increasing sustainability efforts.
The Green Key program ties in nicely with the Council’s
efforts to reach out to the UAE hospitality industry. The
hospitality sector is the first sector-based program, launched by

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
19
EmiratesGBC in June 2013, and will be used as a basis for the
development of other sector-based programs in the future.
EmiratesGBC Events
Annual Congress
The first Annual EmiratesGBC Congress was held in 2012,
and the running theme was 'Innovations in Sustainability'. Over
150 delegates participated in the 2-day event which included a
conference comprising several distinguished speakers, a gala
dinner and workshops. The 2-day Congress was a milestone for
EmiratesGBC, showing it had the resources and support to develop
and carry out such an important event, one of the few
conferences in the UAE organized by a non-commercial
organization focusing on green buildings. The conference
welcomed several high profile government speakers and also
included international speakers.
In December 2013, the 2nd Annual Congress received a
positive response and its Gala segment was complemented with
the introduction of the first Annual EmiratesGBC Awards
Ceremony. The theme for the event was "Building a Green Future"
and EmiratesGBC proudly hosted over 160 attendees. Guests
included dignitaries from the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy,
Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, the Urban Planning Council,
and from the MENA GBC network.
The 2014 Annual Congress again bought together industry
leaders and representatives this time to discuss the concept of
sustainable cities and the exciting opportunities and challenges
related to the role of cities and regions in catalyzing sustainable
innovation, products, technologies and new business models. The
event commenced with a signing of an MOU with the Ministry of
Public Works laying a new and important groundwork with the
public sector. Audiences were further enlightened by an
international panel of speakers from the UNEP, the C40 Group,
and the City of Los Angeles, highlighting best practices in city
development and planning.
Annual Awards
In June 2014, EmiratesGBC held an exclusive award-giving
ceremony at the Grosvenor House Dubai, hosting 107 attendees.
The Annual Awards, announced in 2012 alongside the Annual
Congress and launched in 2013, was another milestone initiative
for EmiratesGBC. While the EmiratesGBC Annual Awards compete
with many other awards in the market, it is gaining attention as an
awards platform for the industry by an industry forum, which
increases its credibility. The judging process is robust and has an
external auditor on board to ensure transparency with the
Awards.
The 2014 Awards Gala was showcased for the first time as
a standalone event, giving EmiratesGBC two major events each
year. Attendees included EmiratesGBC members, industry leaders,
award applicants and winners, sponsors and media.

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
20
Networking Events
Since 2009, EmiratesGBC has also been hosting networking
events which are open to both members and non-members. The
networking events feature a short presentation or panel
discussion about a relevant building topic, followed by a short
Q&A session and networking opportunity. Topics that have been
covered in past events include discussions on green economies,
EXPO 2020, waste management, building energy efficiency, and
sustainable housing, to name a few.
As of mid-2014, EmiratesGBC has hosted a total of 23
Networking Events attended by over 1,200 professionals with an
average attendance of 52 participants per event. Figure 9 depicts
a visual analysis of the success of EmiratesGBC's events.
Training Programs
In early 2007, the EmiratesGBC Management Committee
had identified a need to introduce technical training for
professionals, and it was considered beneficial to start training
courses on the LEED sustainable rating offered by USGBC.
EmiratesGBC initiated talks with USGBC and coordinated travel
and accommodation for a LEED trainer from the US.
EmiratesGBC’s academic partner, The British University in Dubai
(BUiD), agreed to provide their campus as venue for training and
with all the logistics in place, EmiratesGBC hosted the first LEED
trainings in the UAE. There were three sessions offered in the first
year, two in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi. The first sets of courses
were enthusiastically received by the professional industry and
attracted a large regional audience including candidates from
neighboring countries such as Kuwait. 150 participants attended
the first year, and by the end of 2008, EmiratesGBC had trained
more than 500 professionals.
Initial training programs provided LEED training courses to
its members covering LEED GA and LEED AP (BD+C and EBOM). In
2013, EmiratesGBC branched out to offer a second training
program for Certified Energy Manager (CEM) qualifications. The
first CEM training course was offered in January in conjunction
with the BUiD and the Association of Energy Engineers. By mid-
2014, EmiratesGBC has facilitated CEM training for over 60
professional candidates; see table 4 below:
Year Number
of
Sessions
Type of Training
LEED CEM
2007 2 62
2008 2 193
2011 5 76
2012 5 58
2013 8 38 45
2014 3 8 19
Table 3. Total number of attendees at EmiratesGBC hosted training programs.

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
21
Conferences and Exhibitions
With growing awareness of sustainable development,
several conferences and exhibitions have been hosted in the UAE
and the MENA region that endorse the vision of UAE leaders for a
sustainable built environment, diversification of the energy sector,
and effective demand side management. Participating in and
attending these conferences and exhibitions allows the
EmiratesGBC to present the Council’s activities and events,
highlight membership benefits and showcase the latest
improvements made by the local authorities in terms of green
regulations and awareness. They also allow EmiratesGBC to share
its expertise from within to present important topics related to
sustainable development. Since 2012, EmiratesGBC has
participated in 35 conferences and exhibitions.

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
22
Seminars, Workshops, and Focus Forums
Since 2010, EmiratesGBC has provided an active forum of
seminars, workshops, and focus forums that promote education
and awareness of:
a) Local and industry regulations in sustainable building,
construction, and facility management.
b) New and existing regional policies related to energy
efficiency, and
c) Innovative solutions for the enhancement of sustainable
design in the built environment.
Building tours
In addition to the above activities, EmiratesGBC also hosts
building tours of local sustainably built structures to facilitate
knowledge and shore up interest and motivation towards new and
existing building certification. Recent building tours have included
DEWA Headquarters, The Change Initiative in Dubai, Cleveland
Clinic Abu Dhabi, Masdar City, and DAFZA. Figure 9 represents the
number of events and attendance rates.
Figure 7 Attendance at other events hosted by EmiratesGBC (Focus Groups, Seminars,
and Building Tours). 21
Workshops
EmiratesGBC began its technical workshop program in
2012, and has since hosted monthly workshops at its office
headquarters in Dubai. Discussions on various topics are facilitated
by industry representatives from the EmiratesGBC membership
directory and reflect contemporary trends in sustainability and
pertain to the industries where EmiratesGBC's stakeholders are
situated. Workshops are open to EmiratesGBC members and
partners only and past workshops have covered a wide range of
topics from waste water treatment & reuse to passive
environmental design, and have also provided technical overviews
21 Attendance number for 2010 Focus Day is based on estimate.
1
6
4
9
7
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Focus Day
Seminars/Buildi
ng Tours
Total Number
of Events
Attendance at
EmiratesGBC
events

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC)
23
of new and current sustainable regulations in the UAE. The graph
below offers a comparison between the number of workshops
hosted every year and the number of attendees:
Figure 8 Attendance at monthly EmiratesGBC workshops
109
101 105
7
6
8
1
10
100
2012 2013 2014 (
Attendance
Technical
Workshops

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
Conclusion
24
Overcoming Challenges
Economic Crisis
Any impact on the industry will also have its effect on an industry
forum, and so was the case with the EmiratesGBC during the
economic crises of 2008. The crisis resulted in some founding
members withdrawing from their seats and for a temporary period
EmiratesGBC had difficulty retaining and recruiting new members
[sees Fig 4 above.]
Strategic Restructuring
Another challenge the Council faced was updating the outdated
bylaws to align with the growing EmiratesGBC platform in order to
make them practical and implementable. The term ‘Founders’ was
removed from the bylaws and all important team players were
consolidated as Board Members; this ensured a dynamic structure
that could accommodate Member turnover. The revised bylaws
were finalized in January 2014 with the Arabic version submitted
to the DED. Under the new structure, if a Board Member
resigned, the seat could then be opened up for Corporate
Members on a merit basis, thus safeguarding the productivity and
structure of the Board.
Market Uptake
The market is often ambivalent to news, ideas, and trends,
especially if the newly injected ideas seek to revamp the normal
business as usual mode. Introducing new products and services
may seem like small steps to purveyors but revolutionary to
customers and clients. EmiratesGBC has taken concerted efforts to
create awareness of new building concepts by targeting all
stakeholders equally.
Conclusion
EmiratesGBC was created to primarily address the building
construction industry which is the largest in the country, and to
ensure that new development that took place would be
environmentally sustainable and would work under a framework
of accountability. When EmiratesGBC was formed in 2006, the
term ‘green building’ was unknown among building professionals
in the UAE as well as the MENA region. By 2010, EmiratesGBC had
become a mainstream term in the sustainable construction
industry.
In 2009, when EmiratesGBC resurfaced after the economic
crisis, its board members revived the Council’s mission by
emphasizing EmiratesGBC’s purpose as an education portal for all
industry stakeholders, offering a balanced view that upholds
global and regional principles of sustainability and conservation. 22
As the previous sections highlight exclusively, the EmiratesGBC has
embarked on that path with success.
22 Stewart, 2009

Emirates Green Building Council | Mission & Vision Report 2014
References
25
HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum galvanized
the momentum in 2007 by mandating that all new construction in
Dubai should measure up to green standards, and EmiratesGBC
has helped establish the infrastructure of knowledge and
collaboration by promoting awareness and education through its
events and workshop activities. Thus EmiratesGBC’s formation has
proved to be auspicious in that regard.
With 30 events held in 2013 alone, and over a 100
outreach campaigns, a growing membership base, and over 800
event attendees in 2014, EmiratesGBC has and continues to serve
its mission of serving as a catalyst for collaboration and a hub for
excellence to promote sustainability of the built environment in
the UAE.
Driven by current policy measures, EmiratesGBC’s well-
informed stakeholders have further gone on to promote
sustainable practices across the country, with results highlighted
in the latest LPR ranking: given the raw data provided by the
Global Footprint Network, the UAE ranks #3 in the list of countries
that achieved the highest reduction of their ecological footprint.
EmiratesGBC’s continued efforts to make the UAE a trend
setter for the region’s sustainable goals and initiatives have been
effectively achieved, largely due to the synergistic overlapping of
its mission with the sustainability goals of the UAE government.
Lastly, due to the hard work of its governing board, members, and
staff, EmiratesGBC is now identified as the leading Green Building
Council in the MENA region.
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