The Emirates Green Building Council has unveiled the programme for its 15th Annual Congress, scheduled for October 27–28 in Dubai, with a focus on accelerating sustainable construction and improving environmental accountability across the property sector.The two-day gathering at Dusit Thani Dubai will mark the council's 20th anniversary under the theme “Beyond the Sandbox: From Benchmark to Breakthrough”, bringing together policymakers, developers, financiers, contractors, engineers and researchers.
Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the congress will examine how sustainable building initiatives can progress beyond experimental projects and voluntary commitments towards measurable improvements across entire property portfolios.
The programme comes as the UAE pursues emissions reductions under its third Nationally Determined Contribution, which sets a target of cutting building-sector emissions by 79 per cent by 2035.
EmiratesGBC chairman Khalid Bushnaq said achieving that target would require the construction and property industries to translate established sustainability standards into practical results.
“For 20 years, EmiratesGBC has championed the green building movement across the UAE,” Bushnaq said. He emphasised that sustainability could no longer remain confined to experimental projects or individual showcase developments.
The congress is expected to attract more than 200 professionals, with over 60 speakers and contributors representing government agencies, financial institutions, real estate businesses, industry organisations and research establishments.
Proceedings will open with addresses by Mohamed Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and Bushnaq.
Sanjeev Coelho, an EmiratesGBC board member and senior associate at HOK Architects, will lead an opening discussion examining the transition from sustainability benchmarks towards measurable industry improvements.
Dr Habiba Al Maarashi, the council's co-founder, vice-chair and treasurer, will participate in a discussion assessing the condition and future requirements of the UAE's built environment.
Five principal themes will guide the programme, covering building performance and disclosure, construction materials and supply chains, finance and policy implementation, environmental resilience, and collective industry accountability.
Sessions addressing building performance will examine energy and water consumption benchmarks and their application to existing properties. Participants will consider how reliable operational data can guide refurbishment investments and establish measurable efficiency improvements.
The discussions follow the council's publication of benchmarking research examining energy and water performance across hotels, shopping malls, offices and schools. The findings provide reference ranges intended to support comparisons and identify opportunities for resource savings.
Construction materials will receive particular attention as developers face pressure to address emissions associated with cement, aluminium, steel and other building products.
Industry representatives will examine environmental declarations, independent verification and supply-chain transparency, including the challenges of obtaining dependable emissions information from manufacturers.
Financial discussions will consider how climate-related risks, insurance considerations and investment requirements influence sustainable construction decisions. The programme will also examine the relationship between government policies, financing arrangements and the delivery of lower-carbon buildings.
Another discussion track will address resilience and resource security, including water management, building adaptation, indoor environmental quality and nature-based solutions suited to local conditions.
The second day will feature presentations demonstrating operational improvements achieved through refurbishment and building management technologies.
Scheduled contributors include representatives of Hydro Building Systems Middle East, DEOS Middle East and Surbana Jurong, who will examine approaches to extending building lifespans and improving operational efficiency.
A government-focused panel will consider how regulatory priorities and environmental disclosure requirements are influencing construction practices.
Representatives associated with AD Ports Group and Ras Al Khaimah Municipality are among the scheduled participants.
Developers will also discuss their influence over sustainable construction through procurement, investment decisions and property management.
Scheduled contributors include representatives of Expo City Dubai, Masdar City, ICD Brookfield Place and Damac Group, alongside EmiratesGBC board members.
An interactive Market Shapers Exchange will gather industry perspectives on implementation obstacles and priorities, with contributions intended to inform the congress communiqué and future council programmes.
Abdullatif Albitawi, chief executive of EmiratesGBC, is scheduled to participate in the closing session, which will identify practical priorities emerging from the discussions.
The congress will be followed on October 28 by the 14th MENA Green Building Awards gala dinner at Dusit Thani Dubai.
The awards, endorsed by the World Green Building Council and supported by regional green building organisations, recognise projects and organisations contributing to sustainable design, construction and building operations across the Middle East and North Africa.
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