The World Green Building Council's (WorldGBC) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) network continues to grow, as we welcome our newest Regional Partner, Masdar City.
Joining the MENA network's community of 11 Green Building Councils (GBCs) and three Regional Partners, Masdar City brings sustainability leadership to a region which continues to drive for a resilient and sustainable future for their communities.
Masdar City is an Abu Dhabi-based sustainable development and innovation hub that is dedicated to making cities a solution to climate change. The business is committed to research and innovation that set the standard for sustainable urban communities. Masdar City has also developed a thriving ecosystem of leading global organisations, from tech startups, to multinationals, that collaborate to create a more sustainable future.
The MENA region has been spotlighted as a critical player in the global climate solution. Currently home to over 350 million people, the region's population growth has been characterised by rapid urbanisation. Yet countries in the MENA region are among the world's most exposed states to the accelerating impacts of human-caused climate change, including heatwaves, droughts, floods and other natural disasters. Those living in countries that lack access to infrastructure, technology and other resources, will suffer the impact.
Amira Ayoub, MENA Head, WorldGBC, said:
"We are so proud that Masdar City has joined our Regional Network. The MENA region, though facing many challenges including climate change impacts and more, is working in true collaboration to find solutions for decarbonised and resilient built environments and sustainable recovery. Masdar City makes that network stronger and we are excited to begin our journey with them."
Chris Wan, Associate Director, Sustainability and CSR, Masdar City, said:
"Masdar City has always been about partnership. To decarbonise the built environment and truly make cities a solution to climate change, we need to collaborate with organisations that share our vision. The World Green Building Council is a natural partner for us given our 15-year history of designing and developing some of the greenest buildings on the market today we've relied on their guidance, expertise, and standards from the very beginning, and are proud of the fact that today, Masdar City is home to one of the largest clusters of LEED Platinum buildings in the world. We're looking forward to working together, sharing knowledge, and contributing to an industry-wide transformation of the built environment."
About Masdar City
Masdar City is a pioneering sustainable urban community, a world-class business and technology hub, and a "green-print" for cities that want to be part of the solution to climate change. With one of the largest clusters of LEED Platinum buildings in the world, the business is dedicated to creating a new kind of city, a new way of working and living, and a more sustainable future for everyone.
The Masdar City Free Zone is a diverse, innovative, and ambitious group of over 1,000 organisations that benefit from comprehensive business support as well as the city's rich ecosystem. Tenants include the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the UAE Space Agency, Siemens Energy, G42 Healthcare, the Advanced Technology Research Council, several Fortune 500 companies, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. The Masdar City Free Zone also includes The Catalyst, a clean-tech startup accelerator programme powered by both Masdar City and BP.
Masdar City hosts a growing residential community and two generations of autonomous vehicles. It also manages the Masdar Green REIT, a real estate investment trust dedicated to investing in sustainable real estate assets. Currently, the Masdar Green REIT is worth nearly AED 2.8 billion.
Our work across MENA
Find out more about the MENA Regional Network of 11 GBCs here and how we're working to help communities build back better across MENA with the Sustainable Reconstruction and Recovery Framework'. You can also follow the campaign on how our network united behind #BuildingTheTransition, as well as the latest news from the region.
