The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Expo City Dubai have solidified their professional collaboration through a strategic agreement that includes Expo City becoming the first developer in the UAE to integrate RICS' award-winning Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) into its practices. This move signifies a deeper partnership between the two entities, underlining Expo City Dubai's position as a global hub for businesses, investors, homeowners, and visitors striving for a more interconnected and sustainable future.
Spanning 3.5 sqkm, Expo City Dubai is set to accommodate approximately 35,000 residents and 40,000 professionals, reinforcing its status as a prominent destination aligning with the emirate's ambitious economic growth plans. Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer at Expo City Dubai, emphasized the pivotal role the city plays in Dubai's long-term prosperity, highlighting its commitment to responsible development through sustainability initiatives and a clear decarbonization roadmap.
Tina Paillet, President of RICS, expressed satisfaction with the burgeoning partnership, tracing its roots back to a meeting with Expo City Dubai's leadership during COP28. Paillet spoke positively about the collaboration, emphasizing its significance for knowledge-sharing and the advancement of the built environment sector in the UAE. The partnership's focus on training and development reflects a mutual intent to foster industry expertise and support the nation's sustainable development goals, particularly its aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The initiative between RICS and Expo City Dubai also involves hosting training sessions, workshops, and courses centered around the WLCA framework. This joint effort aims to enhance carbon measurement practices in the built environment sector while fostering a culture of sustainability in the UAE. The collaboration was formalized through an agreement signed by Ahmed Al Khatib and Belinda Howell, Executive Director for the Middle East & Africa at RICS, with representatives from the Emirates Green Building Council in attendance.
Expo City Dubai's strategic partnership with RICS aligns with the city's newly unveiled master plan, which positions it as a key component driving Dubai's economic growth agenda. Anchored in the Dubai South area, Expo City envisions itself as a bridge connecting various sectors crucial to Dubai's economic aspirations, such as trade, logistics, technology, tourism, business, and events. The collaborative efforts between Expo City Dubai and RICS aim to set new benchmarks for sustainable practices and technologies within the built environment, paving the way for a greener and more prosperous future.
