DAMAC Properties Becomes First Company to Receive Green Building Certification from Government of Dubai
DAMAC suburbia Jebl Ali Apartments Successfully Demonstrated Compliance to Environment, Health & Safety, Sustainability Criteria
DAMAC Properties, one of the leading luxury real estate developers in the Middle East, has become the first company ever to receive a Green Building Certification from the Department of Planning & Development, Trakhees.
Trakhees, the department for Planning & Development, a Dubai-based local regulatory authority and the first to undertake local certification, bestowed the honour on the NAIA at Suburbia Jebel Ali apartments, which will open later this year.
The project demonstrated its compliance to Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Sustainability criteria for the built environment, and became the first project to ever be certified ‘green’ under the scheme. The EHS In-House Green Building certification involves stringent compliance requirements and an exhaustive review process.
“I compliment and thank the developers and the stakeholder community for reposing trust on the EHS and congratulate the team for successfully accomplishing the certification,” said Ms. Madiha Salem, Director EHS. “The EHS ‘in- house’ certification program for Green Buildings was announced to provide its clients with a region-specific, appropriate and cost effective alternative. This program focused a great deal on professional reviews and specific interventions that resonate with the urgent needs of the region.”
“We are indeed proud of the fact that EHS, with the rest of the team, has stood up to the challenges that accompanied this massive task and carved a niche for itself in the arena of sustainable buildings. Green building certification brings with it challenges for operational sustainability and that would be the true test of a performing building. In that aspect, I wish the DAMAC Properties team all success in ensuring that their certified building truly delivers.”
NAIA at Suburbia Jebel Ali was shown to use nearly 30% of its materials with recycled content, and had sourced more than 22% of its materials regionally. The project will also achieve an energy saving of more than 22% and 33% savings on potable water use.
“DAMAC Properties is committed to building a lasting, and sustainable environment for our children and it is a great honour to be the first company to be recognised in such a way by the Department of Planning & Development, Trakhees,” said Ziad El Chaar, Managing Director, DAMAC Properties. “The green building certificate is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our staff and consultants who have worked tirelessly on this exciting project.”
NAIA at Suburbia Jebel Ali is a two-tower luxury apartment development adjacent to Jebel Ali Port and ideally situated within the logistics corridor of Dubai. The project provides preferred parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles, with all on-site parking spaces located under cover.
The incorporation of native adaptive vegetation and highly efficient irrigation design has reduced landscape water demand by 68% while 22% of the roof area is covered with vegetation and 51% is covered with roofing materials with high SRI value (Solar Reflectance Index) which reduces heat island effect.
Established in 2002, DAMAC Properties has delivered almost 10,000 units to date and currently has a development portfolio of over 25,000 units at various stages of progress and planning as of March 31st 2014.
