Abu Dhabi launches green building code

The code, called Estidama, meaning sustainability in Arabic, is based upon the methodology for BREEAM and LEED ratings and is intended to cut a building’s energy and water consumption.

Mott MacDonald was commissioned by Abu Dhabi’s Environment Agency in June last year to develop the code. The Estidama Pearl Assessment Tool takes into account local factors affecting the development of green buildings in the emirate, such as high temperatures during the summer and low rainfall. “The code has much heavier weighting on water consumption and façade design because of the need to preserve water in their harsh climate,” said Gordon Hudson, technical director of Mott MacDonald’s Newcastle office and technical director for the Estidama project.

Other important factors for rating buildings are the area’s lack of groundwater resources, high solar radiation and humidity, the region’s sensitive marine environment, lack of local building materials and high car dependency.

Estidama will be implemented by the state’s urban planning council and be mandatory for publicly funded buildings first of all by the end of the year.

Abu Dhabi is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates and is the largest emirate by area with 86% of the total land area. It has the second-largest by population after Dubai.