We are proud to announce the 11^th edition of the EmiratesGBC Congress, which will spark a conversation around the UAE’s historic Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative and the importance of connectivity, livability, and sustainability. Join us as we connect different stakeholders and encourage collaboration with the common goal of achieving Net Zero 2050 on June 15^th at the Dubai Creek City Center.

Register here.

The UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative was announced in October 2021, exhibiting the nation’s unwavering commitment to achieving net zero and climate neutrality. Using the principles of connectivity, livability, and sustainability to guide the way towards net zero, the Congress will celebrate the progress of the UAE so far, as a trailblazer in the region, and what steps need to be taken to achieve net zero by 2050. With conversations around urban planning, well-being, and public & private sector collaboration, the Congress is certain to be an informative platform to exchange ideas and examine the roadmap to our future.

Please find the agenda here.

To commemorate the Holy Month of Ramadan, the EmiratesGBC Women’s Network hosted an iftar at the Novotel Dubai World Trade Center on April 20^th to give our members the opportunity to exchange experiences and network over a shared meal.

On April 22^nd , EmiratesGBC celebrated Earth Day 2022 themed “Invest in our planet” through offering an awareness and interactive session at Tower Plaza Hotel to their guests and staff. Earth Day is an annual event on to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally. This call to action is directed at all of us- individuals, companies, governments. Being at the forefront in the global movement to peak carbon emissions, and mitigate climate changes, it is crucial for all stakeholders to collaborate. The sum of everyone’s contributions goes way beyond what any one party can bring to the table. Only by working together can we innovate the sustainable solutions that speed up the decarbonization journey.

Emirates Green Building Council took part in the National Jury Stage of the competition which took place on April 28^th, 2022. Eng. Abdullatif Al Bitawi, EmiratesGBC Director was the keynote speaker during the opening ceremony of the contest where fifteen teams from different universities in UAE competed for the First Prize of the award. The next stage of the competition will have the winning team travelling and presenting their projects in Warsaw, Poland in June 2022. Thirty-three countries are participating in this year’s competition edition.

The competition task is organised by Saint-Gobain UAE Group in close cooperation with the City of Warsaw. The participating students shall propose and develop a vision for the revitalization of the area located next to the Warsaw East railway station. The following shall be considered while developing the vision;

1. The characteristics of the location,
2. Warsaw’s plans for achieving the 2050 climate goals, and
3. The expectations of young people wishing to settle and develop in the capital city.

The project involves the renovation of an old factory building, which will be used to integrate the local community, as well as the construction of new residential buildings, some of which will be used as private dormitory/apartments for rent by students. The project must be innovative and sustainable and comply with the technical guidelines prepared by Saint-Gobain.

The program was created to provided awareness and technical guidance to industry professionals on the economically viable methods that can be implemented to improve a building’s environmental performance by reducing a building’s use of energy and water and improving the indoor environmental quality. The course provides knowledge and skills to deliver improved operational efficiency and achieve financial savings.

The program has introductory and advanced courses, and a 20% off discount is given for EmiratesGBC Corporate and Individual Members, Group Bookings (3 or more) & Khalifa University (including Masdar Institute) Students.

If interested, please register here.

Our Net Zero Centre of Excellence was launched in 2018 as a think tank and accelerator to advance net zero carbon buildings in the UAE as part of its commitment to World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero Project. We invite you to explore our website to see the work we are doing. We have also summarised our objectives and actions in the EmiratesGBC Snapshot.

Did you know that being Green Key certified gives you the Travel Sustainable badge on booking.com?

Green Key has been a leading standard of excellence in environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry since the eco-label was developed in Denmark in 1994. Since 2013, Emirates Green Building Council has been the National Operator of the Green Key in the UAE.

If you would like to find out more about the Green Key certification and how we can support you, please contact greenkey@emiratesgbc.org.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, out of 10 million employees working in the construction sector, just 9% are women. In the UAE, women’s participation in the labour force has increased from 29.2% in 1990 to 40.6% in 2018, but there is still a long way to go, especially within the field of green buildings. Women encounter many barriers when deciding to enter male-dominated fields, however, a lack of ambition is not one of these barriers, as the UAE Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) in the Workplace Survey found that 74% of women, compared to 66% of men, have the ambition to set their sights on a top executive role.

Therefore, in support for Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), we are proud to offer the EmiratesGBC Women’s Network. The EmiratesGBC Women’s Network recognises the need to foster further inclusivity and to build on the successes to date by supporting the professional development of women in the MENA region, particularly in fields which are generally male dominated such as the building and construction sectors.

The Network is dedicated to the empowerment of women in the field of green buildings and sustainable development in the UAE and the wider MENA region.  The EmiratesGBC Women’s Network is a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and mentoring as well as for celebrating the positive female role models in the industry today.

Please consider supporting our education and technical programs in 2022 by partnering with us and coming on board as a sponsor to one of our knowledge-sharing initiatives. Opportunities range from webinars and workshops on our priority areas such as Net Zero Carbon Buildings, Energy Efficiency, Green Schools, The EmiratesGBC Women’s Network and Building Retrofit to our flagship Annual Congress and Annual MENA Green Building Awards.

Partnership opportunities are a great way for members to get involved and showcase your organization’s leadership and commitment to sustainable development initiatives. We invite you to find out more – please view our sponsorship packages and contact us to learn more.