Dubai, UAE: Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, today honoured the winners of the 2018 MENA Green Building Awards, at a gala ceremony held at Roda Al Murooj Downtown Dubai.

The MENA Green Building Awards recognise innovation, creativity and excellence in promoting best practice in sustainable built environment. The event this year was the largest yet in the number of award categories as well as partnerships from across the region, demonstrating the growing commitment to sustainable building practices in the Middle East and North Africa.    

The carbon-neutral awards ceremony was attended by government officials, industry leaders, representatives of academia and media, and gained significant traction online under the hashtag #MENAGBAwards.

Officially endorsed by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), the 2018 MENA Green Building Awards was organised by EmiratesGBC in partnership with the Jordan Green Building Council and Lebanon Green Building Council with additional participation from Palestine Green Building Council, Egypt Green Building Council, Kuwait Green Building Council and Morocco Green Building Council for the first time. The event was also sponsored by Majid Al Futtaim as the Platinum Sponsor, and Jotun as the Gold Sponsor. 

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: “We congratulate the winners of the 2018 MENA Green Building Awards for their commitment and sustained focus on setting new standards in promoting the sustainable built environment. This year, we are hosting the largest awards to date with submissions from across the region, demonstrating a positive shift in the industry with a greater focus on sustainable building practices.”

“We hope to share the insights from our winners to accelerate the adoption of innovation by the larger community and to support the building industry in undertaking new and proven sustainable best practices that will help achieve better living environments, higher energy and water use efficiency and reduced carbon footprint in line with the vision of regional governments,” added Al Abbar.

As Platinum Sponsor, and winner of last year’s Green Hotel & Developer of the Year categories, Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer at Majid Al Futtaim, delivered a welcoming address during the event further demonstrating Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to sustainable built environments in the MENA region.  

The winners of the MENA Green Building Awards 2018 in 17 categories are:

  • Green Building of the Year:

  • Green Commercial Building: EQUATE Headquarters, submitted by Dar Gulf Consult for Engineering Consultancy

  • Green School: Al Mamoura Academy, submitted by Aldar Properties PJSC

  • Green Residential Building: Masdar Neighbourhood One Residences Phase 1, submitted by Multiplex Constructions LLC

  • Green Public Building: The Palestinian Museum (TPM), submitted by The Palestinian Museum (TPM)/Taawon-Welfare Association

  • Green Healthcare Building: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, submitted by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

  • Sustainable Building Design of the Year: Yas Bay – Arena, submitted by WSP

  • Sustainable Urban/Community Development Design of the Year: Reem Downtown, submitted by Arup

  • Facility Management Organisation of the Year: Burj Khalifa, submitted by Emaar Facilities Management L.L.C

  • Contractor of the Year: Multiplex Constructions LLC

  • Developer of the Year: Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, submitted for Binghatti Developers

  • Green Building Material/Product:

  • Energy Management: Carrier Aquaforce® 30KAV & 30XV Chillers, submitted by Carrier Middle East Limited

  • Indoor Air Quality: TermoDeck, submitted by Eco-Structures International

  • Conventional Construction Materials: Interpon D2525 ECO, submitted by AkzoNobel

  • Green Building Research Award: Energy Centered Maintenance/A Green Maintenance System, submitted by Emaar Facilities Management L.L.C

  • Retrofit Project of the Year: INNOVENTURES EDUCATION, submitted by SMART4POWER LLC

  • Best Operations & Maintenance (Existing Buildings): Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, submitted by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

  • Training Initiative of the Year: CCC's Sustainability Training Initiative, submitted by Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)

Additionally, the 2018 Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award, presented to one student from a recognised university in the UAE for exceptional research in a subject related to green buildings in the Middle East, was presented to Hiba Najini, Heriot-Watt University, for her research on the ‘Techno-Economic Assessment of Green Building Codes in United Arab Emirates.’

Her work presents the possibilities of improvising the current green building regulations adopted across the UAE by preparing technical and economic appraisals to achieve desired results or optimise the performance using quantitative bench-marking techniques, creating a guide to architects, consultants and project managers to adopt cost-effective schemes to save water and energy. Two UAE-based students were also short-listed for their notable research.

KPMG was the official Observing Auditors for the 2018 MENA Green Building Awards to ensure the highest standards of transparency and fairness in the awarding process.

To ensure carbon neutrality of the 2018 MENA Green Building Awards, emissions from power consumption, heat energy, refrigeration, waste, and other sources such as the journeys of participants to the event, as well as catering and lodging were calculated. These will be offset towards the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Project: Chiller Station L, the first project generating Certified Emission Reduction (CERs) in the region, ensuring a healthy, safe, and clean environment for generations.

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, focus days 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.

About Emirates Green Building Council:

The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) was founded in June 2006, and became the 8th full member of the World Green Building Council in September 2006. EmiratesGBC is an organisation that promotes and educates on green issues in the built environment and is the official body for the UAE endorsed by the World Green Building Council. EmiratesGBC currently has around 150 members in the UAE which represents 1000s of individuals interested and involved in Green Building in the UAE and the region. In addition, EmiratesGBC members receive discounts on a number of programmes such as those related to conferences, seminars, training and green building events.

© Press Release 2018