A LETTER FROM EGBC FAMILY

EmiratesGBC NEWS AND UPDATES

Emirates Green Building Council extends its heartfelt appreciation to all who applied for the 13th Annual MENA Green Building Awards — your participation reflects a strong and growing commitment to advancing sustainability and innovation in the built environment. 🌿

We warmly congratulate all shortlisted candidates and this year’s winners for their outstanding contributions and leadership in promoting a greener, more resilient future.

A special thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, Emirates NBD, and the Silver Sponsor, Mapei Construction Chemicals  for their invaluable support in making this year’s Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner a remarkable success. The evening brought together industry leaders, partners, and sustainability advocates to celebrate collective achievements and inspire continued progress toward a sustainable built environment.

The 2025 Doctor Owainati Students’ Excellence Award was given to Yashvi Gandhi from Amity University Dubai for VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

The winners of the 2025 MENA Green Building Awards are:

• Net-zero Energy Building Project of the Year:

The Link- Masdar City by Climatize

• Existing Sustainable Building Project of the Year:

Strategically Green: Redefining Sustainable Shopping Malls by Majid Al Futtaim

• Sustainable Design Project of the Year:

Ghaf Woods by Majid Al Futtaim

• Healthy Spaces Project of the Year:

UAE Media Council: Certified Healthy Space under the Building Humanization Initiative by Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure

• Sustainable Retrofit Project of the Year:

EMAAR PROPERTIES PJSC by Emaar Asset Management

• Sustainable Facility Management Organization of the Year:

Adeeb Group

• Sustainable Contractor of the Year:

Innovo

• Sustainable Developer of the Year:

Majid Al Futtaim

• Sustainable Consultant of the Year:

Climatize

• Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year:

Hilti Middle East

• Sustainable Building Product of the Year – Indoor air Quality:

Porcelain & Ceramic Tiles by RAK Ceramics P.J.S.C

• Sustainable Building Product of the Year – Energy Management:

SolarisKit HelioPro Solar Water Heater by SOLARISKIT

• Sustainable Building Product of the Year – Water Management:

Hydraloop by Hansgrohe Group

• Sustainable Building Material of the Year – Construction Material:

Sustainable Rebar and Steel Sections by Arabian Gulf Steel Industries

• Sustainable Building Research Award:

Biohuts at Khalifa Port by AD Ports Group

• Sustainability Training Initiative of the Year:

GreenStar by Majid Al Futtaim

EmiratesGBC CEO Leads Masterclass on Smarter Financing for Resilient Buildings at the Responsible Hoteliers Summit 2025

Emirates Green Building Council’s CEO, Abdullatif Albitawi, led an insightful masterclass titled “Smarter Financing for Resilient Buildings: Unlocking ROI through ESCO Models and Retrofits” at the Responsible Hoteliers Summit 2025 .

The session explored innovative financing approaches that drive energy efficiency and resilience in the hospitality sector, highlighting how ESCO models and retrofit projects can deliver guaranteed savings while strengthening building performance and climate resilience.

EmiratesGBC CEO Represents at ASHRAE CRC 2025: Panel on Aligning Healthy Buildings with Carbon Goals

Emirates Green Building Council CEO participated as a panelist in the session titled “IEQ Meets Carbon: Aligning Healthy Buildings, Energy Efficiency, and Emissions Targets” during the ASHRAE CRC Event .

The discussion focused on the intersection of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and carbon reduction strategies, emphasizing how improving occupant well-being can go hand in hand with achieving energy efficiency and emissions targets in the built environment.

Buildings of the Future Workshop

EmiratesGBC in collaboration with the Assistant Sustainability Consultant, Turner and Townsend, delivered an interactive Year 6 STREAM Week workshop at Arcadia School on “Buildings of the Future,” showcasing practical strategies for resilient, energy-efficient, and low-emission design in the UAE. The session explored urban farming (e.g., vertical and rooftop systems), passive cooling and shading, and real-world case examples, giving students evidence-based ideas to apply in their project designs.

Women In ASHRAE Panel Discussion – Voices of Women Leading the Future

EmiratesGBC participated in the Technical Conference of HVACR Nexus 2025: Connecting Innovation and Sustainability, where women leaders came together to discuss their diverse roles in the industry and explore ways to further support and empower one another.

CIBSE Conference

EmiratesGBC took part in CIBSE Decarbonization Conference, participating in a panel on Adapting Net Zero for MENA, to explore bold strategies to accelerate Net Zero in the MENA Region.

EmiratesGBC Participates as External Examiner at UAE University GPII Students’ Final Jury

EmiratesGBC attended the UAE University GPII Students’ Graduation Project Final Oral Jury, to evaluate the program as external examiners. Students presented their work and heard feedback from the EmiratesGBC Team which can enhance the sustainability of their projects and improve its environmental impact.  

UPCOMING EMIRATESGBC EVENTS

EmiratesGBC & Climate Neutral Real Estate Seminar

Emirates Green Building Council will host an engaging seminar bringing together experts and key stakeholders from the sustainable building sector to explore synergies and system integration in building envelopes.

The event will feature a panel discussion with leading authorities in the field, alongside presentations showcasing the latest Dutch technologies driving innovation in this area.

The seminar will open with remarks from a high-level official, followed by welcoming addresses from the Deputy Consul-General of the Netherlands, the Chairman of Climate Neutral Real Estate, and the CEO of Emirates Green Building Council.

PREVIOUS EMIRATESGBC EVENTS

EmiratesGBC Hosts Roundtable on Climate-Neutral Cities in Celebration of World Cities Day

In celebration of World Cities Day, Emirates Green Building Council organized an insightful roundtable discussion that brought together embassy representatives, city experts, and industry leaders to exchange perspectives on climate-neutral transitions and urban resilience.

The event took place on Friday, 31 October, at the EmiratesGBC Sustainability Lounge, providing a collaborative platform to discuss pathways toward sustainable and resilient urban development.

Distinguished speakers included Ms. Kensa Tarqaat, Deputy Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dubai; Mr. Andre Verman, Chairman of Climate Neutral Real Estate (Netherlands); Ms. Itti Press, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Estonia; Mr. Elie Matar, Director of Electricity, Dubai RSB; Mr. Javad Mahmoodi, CEO & Co-Founder of Kotook and Former Mayor; and Ms. Omnia Halawani, Co-CEO & Founder of grfn.

The discussion highlighted global best practices, innovative policies, and collaborative approaches to accelerate the transition toward climate-neutral and resilient cities.

EMIRATESGBC TECHNICAL WORKSHOP FOR MEMBERS BY MEMBERS

The EmiratesGBC 11th (2025) Technical Workshop

For members by members will be by Dubai Acoustic Research Laboratory on the 14th November 11:00 Am – 12:00 Pm, Title:” A Practical Guide to Compliance with Mandatory Acoustic Regulations”. The workshop will be held online format via Teams; invitation sent to all Members.

GREEN KEY

The Green Key programme is a leading standard of excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry. It is operated internationally under the management of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) with Head Offices in Copenhagen, Denmark. FEE has national member organizations in more than 70 countries worldwide where Emirates Green Building Council is the national operator in the United Arab Emirates.

New certified green key Hotels :

• Marriott Marquis Dubai Creek
• voco Dubai – By IHG
• Pullman Hotel Sharjah
• Rove JBR
• PPM Conrad Hotel Dubai
• Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah

MEMBERS & PARTNERS

Maria Malakhova

Individual Member, Emirates Green Building Council

Photocatalytic concrete integrates titanium dioxide (TiO₂) into the cement matrix to trigger a chemical reaction under natural light. When exposed to UV rays, the material activates photocatalysis, breaking down nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other pollutants into harmless byproducts such as nitrates and carbonates.

This technology provides a dual benefit: it improves urban air quality while preserving the aesthetic appearance of facades, pavements, and infrastructure. Unlike traditional coatings, the photocatalytic effect is embedded in the concrete, ensuring long-term durability and performance without additional maintenance.

Pilot projects in Europe and Asia have demonstrated up to 40% NOx reduction in high-traffic zones. Moreover, photocatalytic concrete contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of construction and supports global carbon neutrality targets. For rapidly growing cities, it represents a scalable pathway to cleaner air and sustainable urban environments.

Digital Twins for Sustainable Building Operations

Katrin Schoerkhuber

Director Business Development Middle East and Africa

nhance

Digital Twin technology creates a dynamic, data-driven representation of the built environment by integrating information from energy meters, wireless sensors, indoor air quality devices, and occupancy systems into a single operational model. This unified source of truth allows facility managers and engineers to continuously monitor consumption patterns, detect anomalies, and simulate “what-if” scenarios for improved decision-making. Advanced analytics and AI models transform raw data into predictive insights that extend equipment lifecycle, reduce energy demand, and optimize maintenance schedules. Real-time occupancy analysis further supports efficient space utilization, while carbon and power quality monitoring enable accurate ESG reporting and regulatory compliance. By moving away from fragmented, manual, and paper-based approaches toward a digitally connected ecosystem, buildings evolve into sustainable, efficient, and healthier environments that not only lower operating costs but also provide measurable contributions to organizational sustainability targets and long-term climate goals.

MEMBERS OPPORTUNITES

We want to feature your success stories. Please share with us your accomplishments in relation to the green building industry and allow us to feature you in our newsletter.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

EmiratesGBC WOMEN NETWORK SPOTLIGHT!

Anne Mathew 

Sustainability Planning Lead 

AECOM Middle East

1. Who You Are:

• Beyond your professional role, tell us a bit about yourself. What drives and inspires you personally? Whether it’s hobbies, interests, or values, we’d love to learn more about the person behind the professional achievements

1. • I am fascinated by puzzles! Systems that make sense once you decide how they actually work. At heart, I am an observer. My travels are a way of gathering insights on how historical adaptations inform future resilience. How different cultures and communities solve challenges collectively. Small communities teach me most. Their collaborative resilience often reveals more effective patterns than top-down solutions designed in isolation.What drives me: sustainability isn’t about technical compliance or a tick box exercise. It’s about designing places people love fiercely enough to protect for generations. That human-place connection is the ultimate puzzle.I am endlessly curious about the ripple nexus: how policies, governance, cultures, and small actions weave together creating systemic change.

  2. Career Journey and Achievements:

• • • Can you share a brief overview of your career journey in the field of sustainability? What achievements or projects are you most proud of in advancing sustainable practices?

1. • If I was to describe my career progression I would see it as a series of phases, each evolving with a broader scope. Building the technical foundations for Sustainability, scaling infrastructure portfolios, and shaping city-wide systems, which is what I am engaged in now. Each phase building momentum for the next.I have delivered over 200 sustainability projects in the middle east and worked on several regional firsts, including this year’s achievement where i’m part of the team delivering the highest-ever ‘Envision rating’ for the region.I still get that moment of pride when I see these projects today, as thriving communities or bustling centers for business, fulfilling the purpose for which we envisioned them. My daily commute is never boring.

1.  3. Challenges and Triumphs: 

• • • As a woman in the sustainability sector, have you faced any specific challenges, and how did you overcome them? On the flip side, what triumphs or successes have been particularly meaningful in your career? 

1. • This question got me thinking for a while.I am pleased to say that I have been fortunate to have worked in the UAE, where the environment has always been inclusive that recognized talent regardless of gender. Sustainability was nascent when I started. The real challenge was proving myself in an emerging and underrepresented field. Having women mentors was one thing I truly missed, simply because it was rare to find them in sustainability leadership in the region at that time . This drove me to seek out thought leaders with diverse perspectives across geographies and disciplines, which I believe strengthened my own approach to sustainability. I feel my most meaningful successes come from being a mentor to others today, in a twist of fate, filling the role I once sought, guiding women who are entering sustainability and helping to build a supportive professional community in the UAE and our wider region. However, as in anything in life, the main challenge remains lack of awareness. For Sustainability in specific it might be even more. Making the wider internal and external audience understand the importance of the social and economic value of achieving sustainable environments remains a challenge; and finding the right methodologies and tools to tackle this will also remain an ongoing journey.

  4. Impact and Advice:

• • • How do you see your role contributing to the broader goals of sustainability? Additionally, what advice would you offer to other women aspiring to make a difference in the field of sustainability? 
  • Master the technical fundamentals, seek mentors, trust your instincts, be authentic. My advice to those early in career, is to learn to always speak in clear metrics. Be unapologetically curious and actively engage with the experts around you. Seek their wisdom, but when charting new territory, don’t wait for permission to lead. Initiate projects that align with your values. Be a champion for bold sustainability targets, especially when they’re uncomfortable. That’s where breakthrough happens. Success looks different for everyone. Celebrate small wins alongside ambitious goals. And most importantly, be genuine in your support for other women and ‘pay it forward’. Collective elevation accelerates the change we all hope for.

REACH US

Members of the Emirates Green Building Council can join in any of our technical programs, to advance their knowledge on the program’s relevant topics, contribute to its growth, and sponsor its events. We are working on several ideas related to our programs: Coalition for Green Schools, Health and Wellbeing, Net Zero Center of Excellence, Energy Efficiency, Green Key and Benchmarking Program.

Kindly send us an email to [email protected] to inquire about any of the mentioned technical programs.

EmiratesGBC Sustainability Lounge is now available for meetings and workshops!

If you are interested in using the EmiratesGBC Sustainability Lounge for a workshop or a meeting, kindly get in touch with us at 04-3468244 or send us an email to [email protected]. The office room is fully equipped with AV and provides a pleasant environment for focused meetings or training workshops.