Dubai - MENA Herald: Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa, continues to strive for optimum levels of sustainability as part of its core values. Having attained the highest ‘Green Star’ status from the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark for the second time, performance soared to 67%, surpassing the global average performance rate by 12%; Majid Al Futtaim achieved a score of 100% for management of sustainability practices and 95% for the understanding of risks and opportunities in 2015.
Since 2015, Majid Al Futtaim reached 73% of its 2018 sustainability goals. The company has also achieved eight green building certifications. The sustainability strategy focuses on three main areas including; pioneering standards, prosperous communities and high performing assets. Predominant policies include a sustainability Policy, a Green Building Policy and a Pre-Acquisition Checklist. Additionally, minimum health and safety requirements, labour conditions and regularly communication delivering sustainability messages to suppliers, tenants, employees and customers, and feedback contribute to enhancing and creating new processes to manage and monitor Majid Al Futtaim’s sustainability maintenance.
“Sustainable development is at the forefront of Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to use resources efficiently and in a manner that ensures a premium experience and quality of life,” said Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi, Head of Sustainability at Majid Al Futtaim Properties. “Earth Day provides a moment to recognise that sustainable, environmentally-sound business practices have a lasting benefit that is felt throughout our company and the communities we serve.”
Last year, The U.S. Green Building Council recognized City Centre Mirdif as the world’s largest shopping mall to achieve a Gold Certification in Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EBOM). City Centre Me’aisem, opened in 2015, was awarded with LEED platinum status for its sustainable design and operational approach.
By implementing global sustainability standards, setting the benchmark for sustainable development in the region and driving the sustainability agenda in Dubai, Majid Al Futtaim strives to achieve the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives sustainability goals set out in Vision 2021.
“As well as being a moral responsibility, sustainable development is a critical aspect of Majid Al Futtaim’s long-term operating strategy to have a positive impact on the communities we serve and deliver great moments for everyone, everyday,” Zubi concluded.
Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates 19 shopping malls including Mall of the Emirates, City Centre malls, and also four community malls which are in joint venture with the Government of Sharjah. The lifestyle destinations have or are being updated with state-of-the-art ecologically sustainable LED lighting system and updated structures allowing more natural light throughout the mall and better energy efficiency.
