Final call for entries for the ‘2016 EmiratesGBC Awards’ to recognise excellence in sustainable building in MENA region

• Special award to honour research on green building by an UAE university student
• Deadline for submissions is February 18, 2016, midnight (UAE time)

Dubai, UAE; February 4, 2016: Organisations and individuals across the Middle East and North Africa interested in participating in the ‘2016 EmiratesGBC Awards’ have only two weeks left to submit their entries, until February 18, 2016, midnight (UAE time).

The Awards, organised by the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, recognise excellence in sustainability.

In addition, EmiratesGBC is also running the 2016 Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award to honour a student from a recognised university in the UAE who has conducted exceptional research work in a subject related to green buildings in the Middle East.

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: “We have received some interesting entries so far and would like to encourage everyone to continue sending through their ideas and projects. The region is implementing great sustainable initiatives in the building sector and it is important that we all make sure they are showcased and celebrated to lead by example.”

“Entries can be submitted in both English and Arabic languages to facilitate the process for everyone across the region,” Al Abbar added.

The six categories of the 2016 EmiratesGBC Awards include: Green Facility Management Organisation of the Year rewarding a UAE-based FM organisation for its commitments towards sustainability; Green Building Material/Product Award for the successful introduction to the MENA region of a construction material or product/component which addresses green building principles; Green Building System Award for a building system that provides a more sustainable solution to green building construction than traditional construction methods; Green Building Research Award for research that establishes dependable data, in an area not previously available, related to green building performance; Training Initiative of the Year for the best sustainability training initiative in the MENA region; and Green Building of the Year, for buildings finalised in the past three years in the MENA region that show excellence in terms of design, construction site management, waste and green standards. This honour is presented in four sub-categories including Green Hotel, Green Commercial Building, Green Residential Building and‎ Green School.

To qualify for the Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award, sponsored by EmiratesGBC co-founder Dr. Sadek Owainati, and open only for students from any university in the UAE, the research topic must be directly applicable to green building design, technology, construction or operation with emphasis on its applicability in the MENA region.

More details on fees, application form and guidelines are available on the EmiratesGBC website (https://emiratesgbc.org/awards/2016awards/ and www.emiratesgbc.org/event/2016studentaward). For more details, email: egbcawards@emiratesgbc.org. The award winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner on May 18, 2016 in Dubai.

DOW is the Silver Sponsor of the Awards. Sponsorship packages are still available, with early bird discounts until April 1, 2016. For more information on sponsorship packages follow this link or email engagement@emiratesgbc.org.