• Congress Event to be held under the theme ‘Building a Sustainable Future in Uncertain Times’
• Award entries open to public and private sector, associations, consultants and green building practitioners; application period extended to Aug. 29
• Majid Al Futtaim and Knauf announced as Platinum Partners of the Annual EmiratesGBC Congress and MENA Green Building Awards

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, will host the ninth edition of its Annual EmiratesGBC Congress under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on Nov. 17 & 18 and its flagship MENA Green Building Awards on Nov. 18 in Dubai.

For the first time ever, EmiratesGBC will take a hybrid approach for its flagship conference by offering virtual and in-person participation, allowing for an extended audience across the region. Held under the theme ‘Building a Sustainable Future in Uncertain Times,’ the first day of the Annual EmiratesGBC Congress will be virtual and the second day held as an in-person event in Dubai. The winners of the MENA Green Building Awards will be honoured during a ceremony on the evening following the closing of the Congress.

EmiratesGBC has also announced the extension of award entries for the Awards to Aug. 29 – open to public and private sector entities, associations, consultants and green building practitioners. Professional and Student Award applications can be submitted here: https://emiratesgbc.org/award/

His Excellency Ali Al Jassim, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: “The Annual EmiratesGBC Congress and the Annual MENA Green Building Awards are strong platforms that demonstrate the advancements the region has achieved in sustainable built environments. While the Congress promotes dialogue and interaction on the latest trends, the Awards recognise path-breaking work, and indicate the spirit of innovation that thrives across MENA. With the extension for award entries for the 9th MENA Green Building Awards, we are providing another opportunity for all stakeholders to showcase their work.”

He added: “The theme of our Congress reflects how we can work together to promote sustainable development despite the impact of COVID-19. In fact, the pandemic has accelerated the need to focus further on sustainability best practices. Through these events, we are further supporting the UAE and the region in transitioning to the green economy.”

The 9th MENA Green Building Awards have 17 categories: Net Zero Building Project of the Year; Green Building Project; Sustainable Design Project; Facility Management Organisation; Contractor; Developer; Consultancy; Green Building Product – Indoor Air Quality, Energy Management, Water Management, Green Building Material – Construction Material; Green Building Research Award; Training Initiative of the Year; Retrofit Project of the Year; Best Operations & Maintenance (existing building); Healthy Space Project of the Year and SME of the Year. KPMG is the official Auditor of the Awards to support a fair and transparent process of determining the short-listed and winning organisations.

To encourage academia engagement, the event also includes the Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award sponsored by Dr. Sadek Owainati, a Co-Founder of EmiratesGBC. The winner is eligible for a cash prize and will be awarded to a student who showcases outstanding work in sustainability.

Majid Al Futtaim and Knauf are Platinum Partners of the 2020 Congress and the Awards demonstrating their commitment to sustainable built environments in the MENA region. EmiratesGBC is also offering sponsorship opportunities to the public and private sector looking to highlight their work in sustainability at the MENA Green Building Awards and Annual EmiratesGBC Congress. For more details on submissions, sponsorship and general queries, visit https://emiratesgbc.org/ or contact the EmiratesGBC team on engagement@emiratesgbc.org or call: 04 346 8244.

EmiratesGBC regularly hosts and participates in multinational events, conferences and forums. It has also developed a suite of activities, inclusive of networking events, technical workshops, research 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.