1st Annual Congress of Emirates Green Building Council to focus on innovations in sustainability in Middle East

The two-day event will focus on sustainable practices and innovations in the Middle East.

On the first day, representatives from several government bodies and thought leaders from all over the world will address the Congress on the region's critical sustainability topics and relate them to the global green building movement. On the second day, EmiratesGBC will host its Annual General Meeting, which is open exclusively for members and will be followed by a series of afternoon workshops for delegates.

Adnan Sharafi, EmiratesGBC Chairman, said, "The Annual Emirates Green Building Council Congress is a landmark initiative to foster industry dialogue and multiple stakeholder engagement in promoting sustainable building development. The latest insights from the supply chain sector, to be shared by the foremost thinkers in the field from around the world, will further support our objective of developing and promoting best practices in sustainable development in the region."

He added, "The Congress reiterates our commitment to further underline the UAE's thought leadership in sustainable development initiatives. It will accelerate the activities, across the entire building supply chain, to work towards achieving the country's vision of a Green Economy for Sustainable Development announced earlier this year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai."

The interactive discussions at the Congress will place emphasis on the theme, 'Innovations in Sustainability,' where experts from local and regional organisations will discuss new innovations in the construction sector and share case studies.

Several panel sessions will be held throughout the day to debate on topics such as the role of sustainability rating systems globally and the driving force behind radical sustainable innovations. Case studies on the UAE and the MENA region's experience in sustainable development will also be presented. The first day will conclude with a gala dinner.

The Annual General Meeting will review the Council's accomplishments and future plans to reinforce its goals of driving the UAE's green vision. As part of its objectives to strengthen awareness on promoting sustainable built environments, several workshops to share best practices in the industry, will be conducted by industry experts from both public and private entities.

EmiratesGBC regularly hosts and participates in multinational events, conferences and forums. The Council has also developed a suite of activities, including networking events, technical workshops, focus days and lecture series, and facilitates training based around specific issues related to the sustainable built-environment that meet the needs of the community and various stakeholders.

The first Annual EmiratesGBC Congress will be held in partnership with platinum sponsors Cemex Topmix LLC, Dow Chemical IMEA, Shaw Contract Group, and Trane.