Tilal Al Ghaf Secures Prestigious ‘BREEAM Excellent’ Certification for its Sustainable Placemaking Approach

Dubai, UAE, 27 February 2023: Majid Al Futtaim Development has once again been recognised with the distinguished BREEAM Excellent Certification for its commitment to integrating sustainable design at Tilal Al Ghaf, its flagship lifestyle destination in Dubai.

With an initial target of achieving a ‘Very Good’ rating, Tilal Al Ghaf surpassed expectations by securing the outstanding, widely revered, and top-level certification for its holistic approach to ESG, health, and net zero goals within the development of its unique lifestyle proposition.

Sustainable buildings remain a focal point in Majid Al Futtaim’s ambitions as the Company thinks holistically about the impact the business has on the environment and the communities in which it operates. The latest Certification It is testament to Majid Al Futtaim’s unwavering commitment to sustainability as the Group journeys closer to Net Positive by 2040.

As demonstrated by the BREEAM certification, the developer continues to support Dubai’s 2040 urban master plan through creating destinations rooted in human-centric design and robust sustainability standards which deliver an exceptional quality of life. The certification was awarded based on the project’s exceptional compliance with several of BREEAM’s core categories, including governance, socio-economic impact, resources and energy, land use and ecology, and transport and movement.

Expected to result in significant economic and employment benefits to the local community and Dubai, the destination considers socio-economic factors affecting health and well-being, such as inclusive design, cohesion, adequate housing, and access to employment, while implementing the best environmental practices available. Tilal Al Ghaf is set to see a net increase employment, earnings, and/or productivity, and expected to generate diverse opportunities across different industries and occupations, with over 40,000 direct jobs during the construction period and a further 23,000 jobs as a result of the multiplier effect.

Hawazen Esber, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Development, comments: "We are proud that Tilal Al Ghaf has been recognised with the BREEAM Excellent Certification. This stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainable design and living.”

He continues: “In line with the vision of Dubai’s leadership to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, we challenge ourselves to exceed world-class standards and think holistically about the impact of our communities on the environment. Accordingly, we continue to strive to deliver increasingly innovative sustainability solutions to help combat the negative effects of climate change.”

From promoting an active lifestyle to offering ample opportunities for entertainment and retail, Majid Al Futtaim Development is dedicated to creating vibrant and authentic communities where people feel connected to the environment, and form strong social bonds.

Each neighbourhood at Tilal Al Ghaf features plenty of playgrounds, communal pools, and outdoor gyms, with the larger community easily connected to public transport, main roads, and a number of other communities and facilities. With a microclimate design integrated with the wider transport strategy, the community encourages a healthy lifestyle and promotes sustainable travel, with a walkable urban plan brought to life through a network of pathways, cycling tracks and jogging trails.

Defined with resources efficiency in mind, the Tilal al Ghaf masterplan takes into consideration sustainable strategies to help reduce energy usage, and boasts a high-performance landscape that is not only aesthetically pleasing but fulfils a series of climatic and ecological benefits. Following an operational waste strategy based on the ‘circular economy’, the project is being constructed in accordance with the BREEAM Requirements for Responsible Construction Practices, achieving a minimum of 85% waste diversion.

An industry benchmark for sustainably built environments, BREEAM is the world’s leading science-based suite of validation and certification systems, providing consistent and comparable assessment and verification across a wide range of asset types in the real estate sector, including in-use properties, new construction, communities, and more.

In addition to its recent certification, Tilal Al Ghaf was recognised at last year's BREEAM Awards, with The Pavilion at Tilal Al Ghaf Sales & Experience Centre taking the Regional Award for Asia, for its sustainable design of the first Zero Positive Building in the region.

For more information on Tilal Al Ghaf, please visit https://www.tilalalghaf.com/en