A LETTER FROM EGBC FAMILY

EmiratesGBC NEWS AND UPDATES

Empowering Leadership Through the EmiratesGBC Women’s Network Mentorship Programme

Launched annually in celebration of International Women’s Day, the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) Women’s Network Mentorship Programme is a flagship initiative dedicated to supporting the professional growth and leadership development of women across the built environment sector.

The program connects female EmiratesGBC members with experienced industry mentors through a structured, goal-oriented mentorship journey spanning six months, fostering knowledge exchange, career advancement, and meaningful professional connections.

PREVIOUS EMIRATESGBC EVENTS

Women in Engineering: Advancing the Carbon Conversation

The Emirates Green Building Council Women’s Network, in collaboration with CIBSE Women in Building Services Engineering (WiBSE), successfully hosted Women in Engineering: The Carbon Conversation, an engaging virtual event that brought together industry professionals to discuss embodied carbon and the evolving role of women in driving sustainability and engineering innovation within the built environment.

The evening featured a technical panel exploring whole-life carbon considerations, including regulatory developments, measurement approaches, and material impacts shaping sustainable construction practices. Experts from across the industry shared insights and practical perspectives, followed by an interactive leadership workshop focused on building confidence, strengthening communication skills, and enhancing leadership presence for women in technical fields.

The session concluded with dynamic discussions and networking opportunities, reinforcing EmiratesGBC’s commitment to empowering women professionals and fostering collaboration to advance climate action across the built environment.

UPCOMING EMIRATESGBC EVENTS

Knowledge Sharing Webinar: Advancing Water Resilience in the Built Environment

As water scarcity, rising demand, and climate-related extremes increasingly shape the built environment, water resilience has become an immediate priority for the UAE. Marking World Water Day, this interactive roundtable webinar will explore how buildings can respond to these challenges through smarter design, efficient water management, and innovative technologies such as AI-driven monitoring and on-site reuse systems. The session will also highlight the strong connection between water efficiency, energy performance, and net zero ambitions, emphasizing how reducing water consumption can support both resource resilience and carbon reduction across the built environment.

Local Sustainability News

Abu Dhabi Department of Energy launches 2nd phase of Solar Energy Self-Supply Policy, expanding to residential sector

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has launched the second phase of its Solar Energy Self-Supply Policy, expanding for the first time to include the residential sector across Abu Dhabi. The initiative enables villa owners and eligible residential buildings to generate, store, and integrate rooftop solar energy with the electricity grid, supporting more efficient energy use.

The policy forms part of DoE’s broader efforts to advance a sustainable and efficient energy system through smart and flexible energy solutions, building on the successful first phase introduced earlier this year, which allowed farms and rest houses to adopt solar self-generation and storage.

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EMIRATESGBC TECHNICAL WORKSHOP FOR MEMBERS BY MEMBERS

The EmiratesGBC 4th (2026) Technical Workshop

For members by members will be by ductFIT on the 10th April 10:30 Am – 11:30 Am, in Indoor Air Quality: Why real-time IAQ monitoring matters for our people. The workshop will be held online format via Teams; invitation will be sent to all Members, and the link will be updated at the members portal

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 Green Key Hotel Certified:

• Four Seasons Hotel , Dubai International Financial Centre
• Vida Creek Beach L.L.C.
• Hotel Local Dubai, Jumeirah Village Triangle, Autograph Collection

MEMBERS & PARTNERS

ASSA ABLOY Advancing Sustainability Through Measurable Impact

ASSA ABLOY continues to embed sustainability across its operations, products, and supply chain, supporting the transition to a more resilient and low‑carbon built environment. By integrating sustainability into its business strategy, the company aims to reduce environmental impact while enabling customers to achieve their own sustainability objectives.

In 2025, ASSA ABLOY successfully completed its fourth global sustainability program, achieving strong progress against environmental and social targets. Compared to a 2019 baseline, absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions were reduced by 34%, exceeding the original 25% target. Significant improvements were also made in energy (–38%) and water intensity (–59%), alongside continued focus on employee wellbeing, resulting in a 27% reduction in injury rates.

Responsible supply chain management remains a priority. During the program period, 761 sustainability audits were conducted, covering 95% of direct material spend, supporting transparency and continuous improvement across the value chain. Product transparency was further strengthened through the publication of 318 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

Building on this momentum, ASSA ABLOY has launched its fifth sustainability program to 2030, focusing on climate, operations, supply management, innovation, and people. Aligned with science‑based targets, the program places strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation to address Scope 3 emissions, which account for the majority of the company’s carbon footprint.

Discover our sustainability highlights for 2025 in this short video: https://youtu.be/_lIeVYDdPoE.

Life Cycle Assessment: Comparability

Dr. Deidre Wolff

Emirates Green Building Council Individual Member

Applying different methodologies for LCA studies of the same product system is a key limitation that leads to incomparability. The ability to compare LCA results is of significance to decision makers that aim for environmental impact reduction. Consensus on which methods to apply is thus an urgent ongoing challenge that is not straight-forward to solve amongst multiple stakeholders. Many working groups are focused on harmonization of methodologies, particularly as LCA becomes integrated in procurement policies and regulations, such as with requirements for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Digital Product Passports (DPP). EPDs report LCA results of products without the confidential information contained within the underlying LCA study. Data within EPDs, particularly for construction products, could be integrated within the DPP as part of the required Declaration of Performance and Conformity (DoPC), although some methodological differences are still under discussion. Work towards harmonization and improved transparency for EPDs has included mutual recognition of standards (with ambition to harmonize) between EPD Programme Operators and a common set of rules implemented by the ECO Platform for ECO EPDs.

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!

Reem Hatem

Emirates Green Building Council Individual Member

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’m driven by curiosity and purpose—especially when it comes to creating impact beyond the workplace. As a mother, I’m inspired by building a healthier future for the next generation. The same care I give my children is the care I extend to others, which is why sustainability feels so personal to me. I love simplifying complex ideas and turning them into meaningful stories. Through my content—even featuring my daughter on my YouTube channel—I try to connect with young minds and reflect the spirit of the UAE’s Year of the Family. I value authenticity, growth, and making a difference, even in small, everyday ways.

  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. • My journey into sustainability evolved naturally through my background in civil engineering, construction and facilities management. Over time, I became passionate about transforming buildings into more efficient, healthier, and environmentally responsible spaces. I’m most proud of leading initiatives that reduce carbon footprints across large building portfolios, improving indoor environmental quality, and embedding sustainability into daily operations—not just strategies. I’ve also worked on eliminating single-use plastics, enhancing waste management practices, and aligning operations with frameworks like ISO 14001, 9001 and 45001. Beyond projects, I take pride in simplifying sustainability to my clients through content and awareness, helping bridge the gap between technical solutions and real-world impact.

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. • One of the biggest challenges has been demonstrating that sustainability isn’t just an environmental initiative—it’s about looking at solutions from all angles and translating them into real business opportunities. Shifting this mindset, especially in operational environments, requires both technical understanding and strong communication. At times, I also had to work harder to be heard and trusted, but I focused on delivering results and speaking the language of value.What I’m most proud of is when my peers say, “Your passion really shows in your work.” That, to me, reflects purpose, passion and the impact of leading by example.

  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? 
  • I see my role as bridging the gap between strategy and real impact—turning sustainability from concepts into actions that improve buildings, operations, and people’s everyday experiences. Whether it’s reducing carbon, improving indoor environments, or influencing decision-making, I focus on making sustainability practical, measurable, and valuable.My advice to women is: don’t wait to feel “ready.” Start where you are, stay curious, and speak up—your perspective is needed. Sustainability needs diverse voices and bold thinking. Most importantly, connect purpose with action, because real impact happens when passion is translated into consistent, everyday efforts.

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.