EmiratesGBC Recognises Excellence In Sustainability At The 2025 MENA Green Building Awards Ceremony

The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) recently honoured outstanding achievements in sustainable construction at the 2025 MENA Green Building Awards. The event took place at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai, featuring participation from nine regional Green Building Councils. This year, 81 entries from 55 organisations across seven nations were submitted for consideration.

More than 200 attendees, including representatives from public and private sectors and academia, gathered to celebrate sustainability efforts. Emirates NBD supported the event as a platinum sponsor, underscoring its dedication to sustainability principles. The awards ceremony highlighted the region's commitment to innovative solutions for climate change through sustainable building practices.

Habiba Al Marashi, Co-founder, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of EmiratesGBC, expressed her satisfaction with the event. She stated that the awards showcased significant innovations and commitment to sustainable development in the region. "The MENA Green Building Awards 2025 once again highlighted the strong innovations and dedication advancing sustainable development across the region," she said.

The judging panel consisted of 34 experts who evaluated submissions across 17 categories. Among these were 11 entries for the Dr Owainati Student Excellence Award, which acknowledges young contributors to sustainability's future. This award was won by Yashvi Gandhi from Amity University Dubai for her project on Vernacular Architecture in today's world.

The winners of the 2025 awards included several notable projects and initiatives. These encompassed The Link project by Masdar City and Climatize, Majid Al Futtaim's Green Strategy initiative, and the Ghaf Woods project. Other winners included Emaar Properties' building-retrofit project and Innovo's contributions.

Additional accolades went to Hilti Middle East, RAK Ceramics, Solariskit, Hansgrohe Group, Arabian Gulf Steel Industries, AD Ports Group, and Majid Al Futtaim's Green Star initiative. These projects exemplify leadership in applying green-building principles for widespread benefit.

Encouraging Future Generations

The Dr Owainati Student Excellence Award highlights emerging talents in sustainability. Yashvi Gandhi received a cash prize along with a complimentary one-year student membership in EmiratesGBC. Her work reflects a growing interest among students in contributing to sustainable practices.

This year's broad participation underscores the MENA region's increasing role in adopting eco-friendly practices. It also demonstrates a collective effort towards addressing climate challenges through innovative built-environment solutions.

The event not only celebrated current achievements but also inspired future advancements in sustainable construction within the region. By recognising both established leaders and new talents, it fosters continued progress towards environmental responsibility.

With inputs from WAM