Abu Dhabi has been recognised for its efforts to construct ‘greener’ building projects.
The UAE was recently named as one of the top ten markets for green building space by not-for-profit organisation the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
The organisation oversees the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) green building rating system that has already certified two buildings in the capital – the Rosewood Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah and the International Tower
at Capital Centre, near Adnec.
Overall, the UAE has the eighth-largest stock of Leed-certified buildings outside the US with 3.1 million square metres.
The USGBC states that it has more than 80 member organisations in the UAE across the country’s architecture, construction, manufacturing, real estate and retail industries.
The UAE also boasts the fourth-largest number of Leed-accredited construction professionals in the world – ranked only behind the US, Canada and China.
Rick Federizzi, the chief executive of USGBC, says: “The UAE has become an increasingly important centre for the global green building movement, a development that will help provide greater environmental health and increased economic opportunity for its citizens and will hopefully help to inspire a robust green building market throughout the Middle East.”
