The King today visited Heriot-Watt University Dubai’s campus in Dubai Knowledge Park. He was joined by Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf. Speaking on the occasion, Richard Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University said: “We are deeply honoured by the visit of His Majesty King Charles III to our campus in Dubai. “Heriot-Watt was the first British university to open a campus in Dubai back in 2005 and since then, we have grown to become the largest international university in the UAE. “When our University was founded more than 200 years ago, it set out a clear purpose to…
Author: Kasun Illankoon
Offices with higher LEED rating command higher rental rates with premiums up to 33% in the UAE, according to the company’s latest UAE Sustainability Report 2023. In this report, CBRE has looked at the current state of the sustainable development landscape in the UAE and the progress of planning and implementation of both global and local standards, focusing on the UAE commercial office sector. Currently, LEED-certified developments in Abu Dhabi’s office market account for 50.3% of the total gross leasable area (GLA) of institutional-grade buildings that CBRE tracks. This amounts to a total of 445,649 square metres. As a result, the…
By Monica Menendez, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs; Director of the Research Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES); Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi Earlier this month, Stockholm announced a plan to ban diesel-and-gas-powered vehicles from entering large parts of its city center, in one of the world’s most far-reaching efforts to combat automobile emissions. It also potentially marks the beginning of the end for a form of transport that came to define urban landscapes. Indeed, one survey of US cities showed that downtowns devote an astonishing 50 to 60 percent of their space to…
Daikin Middle East and Africa FZE (“Daikin”), a leading manufacturer of Air Conditioning, Heating, Ventilation, & Refrigeration solutions is taking a significant step towards its Environmental Vision 2050 and commitment to carbon neutrality by introducing the Daikin iPlant Manager to the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. In line with its strategic management plan Fusion 25, Daikin aims to provide innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact, enhance indoor comfort, build healthier spaces to live in, and support sustainability. Daikin iPlant Manager, developed in collaboration with Conserve It, Australia (a member of the Daikin Group), offers a new generation of advanced…
H&H Development, a pioneer in Dubai’s real estate industry offering bespoke turnkey developments, redefines modern living experiences and sophistication with the launch of its ‘Eden House – The Canal’ project near the Dubai Water Canal in Jumeirah, on November 29, 2023. The latest development was launched during a grand event at the Four Seasons Resort at Jumeirah Beach, Dubai. The high-end development is part of the brand’s expansion, following the excellent reception of the company’s ‘Eden House’ brand in Al Satwa. H&H Development declared Sotheby’s to be the exclusive broker for ‘Eden House – The Canal’ George Azar, Managing Director…
OMNIYAT, Dubai’s leading visionary developer, has announced the groundbreaking and commencement of construction for VELA, Dorchester Collection, Dubai, following a successful launch back in June of this year. This announcement complements the luxury developer’s acquisition of Marasi Bay Marina in the Burj Khalifa District in September this year and demonstrates OMNIYAT’s dedication to delivering elevated living in a newly acquired and reimagined destination. A serene structure conceptualised by Foster + Partners, with the crafted interiors of Gilles & Boissier, VELA will rise to 150-metres tall, with over 270,000 sq. feet spread across 30 floors, housing 38 curated and fully-furnished residences.…
The Expo 2030 world’s fair will be held in Riyadh in another hosting victory for a Gulf country after Qatar put on football’s World Cup last year. “This huge result for Saudi was unexpected in those proportions,” Giampiero Massolo, head of the Italian Expo bid, told reporters. “It is no longer about the merits but about transactions.” Saudi Arabia, as the only declared candidate, is set to host the 2034 World Cup and is also planning an Olympics bid. “We had a fantastic team of ministers going around the world, engaging our counterparts in a very, very active way to understand what…
By Professor Malcolm Chrisp, Director of Teaching & Learning in the School of the Built Environment at Heriot-Watt University The built environment, encompassing infrastructure, buildings, and urban spaces, stands at the nexus of climate action. It both contributes to and is impacted by environmental challenges. Worldwide, the constructed infrastructure accounts for 36 per cent of energy usage, 38 per cent of carbon emissions linked to energy, and 50 per cent of resource utilisation, with an anticipated doubling of its size by 2060. Consequently, it’s evident that buildings, irrespective of their purpose, must undergo more efficient development and operation. Amidst…
Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management company Farnek has been granted full accreditation as an Energy Services Company (ESCO) from Dubai’s Regulatory & Supervisory Bureau (RSB). The RSB was established in 2010 and works under the auspices of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, developing and administering frameworks to encourage greater energy efficiency in buildings. The ESCO accreditation scheme is designed to build trust and make the process smoother for accredited entities and their clients. Previously an accredited energy auditor with RSB, Farnek was given full ESCO accreditation due to its proven track record of Energy Performance Contract (EPC)…
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) – the world’s flagship free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, and Sweid & Sweid, a prominent Dubai-based international real estate developer, have announced the launch of a new Grade-A commercial office space project, Sweid One, in the heart of its vibrant Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) district. Set for completion in 2026, the 500,000 square feet project will be developed to Sweid & Sweid’s state-of-the-art architectural design and project specifications, complementing its existing suite of successful commercial developments, which are home to many leading multinational institutions including Visa, Oracle and Google.…