• Dubai Central Laboratory will undertake the required tests and certification of products and materials of EmiratesGBC members
• EmiratesGBC to provide technical inputs for testing of green building materials

Dubai, UAE; May 19, 2014: Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, has signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL), the integrated facility of Dubai Municipality that undertakes all testing and analyses to ensure businesses operate to the highest quality standards, for testing of green materials and products.

The SLA was signed by Eng. Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, and Eng. Salem Bin Mesmar, Asst. Director General for Environment, Health & Safety Control Sector of Dubai Municipality during a tour of the Dubai Central Laboratory facilities conducted for EmiratesGBC members.

Eng. Hawa Abdulla Bastaki, Director of DCL, said: “It is our great pleasure to sign the SLA with EmiratesGBC, a professional organisation that is actively involved in enhancing and promoting green building specifications and their implementation. DCL and EmiratesGBC share a common vision and mission and we are confident of the success of this agreement.”

Saeed Al Abbar said: “We are thankful to Dubai Central Laboratory for signing the SLA, which will further enable our members to ensure that their building materials and products are aligned with the green building specifications outlined by the Dubai Municipality. We can achieve far greater efficiencies in constructing green buildings as well as in retrofitting existing structures by adhering to the highest standards in quality of materials used. This in turn will help fulfil the green vision for the nation outlined by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.”

As per the agreement, DCL will perform the required tests and certification of the products and materials of EmiratesGBC members as per international standards. The lab will also provide technical suggestions and recommendations relating to the testing specifications, participate in EmiratesGBC networking events and workshops, co-operate in developing future tours of the facility for the Council’s members and communicate new regulations by Dubai Municipality relating to green buildings.

On its part, EmiratesGBC will extend technical inputs for the testing and certification of green materials and products, support DCL’s annual conference and efforts on quality assurance for sustainable construction materials, share information and promote DCL’s recognised testing and certification facility with the Council members.

EmiratesGBC is taking committed efforts to promote the use of green materials and sustainable practices in the built environment. The Council continuously promotes its members to adopt the latest in green solutions, and honours them for their innovative approaches through the EGBC Awards.

This year, the EGBC Awards honours the Green Building of the Year, Green Facility Management Organisation of the Year, Green Building Material/Product Award, Green Building System Award, Green Building Research Award and Training Initiative of the Year.

The winners of EGBC Awards 2014 will be announced on June 11, 2014 at a gala event to be held at Grosvenor House, Dubai. A special Dr Sadek Owainati Award for Students will also be awarded to a university student for exceptional research work on a subject related to green buildings in the Middle East.

EmiratesGBC regularly hosts and participates in multinational events, conferences and forums. EmiratesGBC has also developed a suite of activities, inclusive of networking events, technical workshops, focus days and facilitated training based around specific issues related to the built-environment that meet the needs of its members, of the UAE community, and the wider Middle East.

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Note to Editors

About Emirates Green Building Council:

The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) was founded in June 2006, and became the 8th full member of the World Green Building Council in September 2006. EmiratesGBC is an organization that promotes and educates on green issues in the built environment and is the official body for the UAE endorsed by the World Green Building Council. EmiratesGBC currently has around 260 members in the UAE which represents 1000s of individuals interested and involved in Green Building in the UAE and the region. In addition, EmiratesGBC members receive discounts on a number of programmes such as those related to conferences, seminars, training and green building events.

For further information, please contact:

Kelly Home / Mohammed Al Tawil

ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller

+9714 4507600

kelly.home@bm.com / mohammed.altawil@bm.com