Expo City Dubai has signed a strategic agreement with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), advancing their professional cooperation.
The agreement will see Expo City become the first developer in the UAE to incorporate RICS’ award-winning Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA).
Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer at Expo City Dubai, and Belinda Howell, Executive Director of Middle East & Africa at RICS, signed the agreement. The representatives from the Emirates Green Building Council also attended the signing ceremony.
The WLCA standard enables consistent and accurate carbon measurement in the built environment by supporting comprehensive and consistent decision-making. The collaboration will also create a more sustainable built environment sector across the UAE, with the two parties hosting training and development sessions, workshops and further courses centered to equip industry professionals with enhanced skills.
The strategic agreement follows the announcement of Expo City Dubai’s new master plan. Expo City Dubai, spanning 3.5 sq. km, will be home to around 35,000 residents and 40,000 professionals as it unfolds into a global center for businesses, investors, homeowners and visitors who share its vision of a brighter, more connected and sustainable future.
Ahmed Al-Khatib Chief Development & Delivery Officer – Expo City Dubai
“Expo City Dubai has a significant role to play in Dubai’s long-term prosperity and we have always been committed to meeting that need responsibly, with a decarbonization roadmap and sustainability initiatives that ensure we work with – not against – our environment. Our partnership with RICS enables that commitment, and the training and development opportunities reflect our belief in the importance of knowledge-sharing for the benefit of the whole of the built environment sector in the UAE, supporting the nation’s journey to net zero by 2050.”
Tina Paillet, President of RICS, added that, “This partnership is excellent news, and I am proud to have played a small part in initiating this when I met with the leadership of Expo City Dubai during COP28 last year, as part of the RICS delegation. This agreement signifies the growing collaboration between RICS as a global professional body and Expo City Dubai, as a world leading development. Together, we look to serve as a beacon for advanced sustainability practices and technologies in the built environment. It is wonderful to witness this budding partnership reach fruition during my Presidency.”
Expo City Dubai shines as one of five top hubs in the 2040 Dubai Urban Master Plan, and plays a significant role in delivering the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy by 2033.
The new master plan establishes the city as the lynchpin between vital enablers of Dubai’s economic aspirations across critical sectors including trade and logistics, technology and innovation, tourism, business and events.
