Day: June 13, 2021

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Dubai Chamber wins 2021 US Green Building Council Middle East Leadership Award

DUBAI, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently added another award to its list of achievements by winning the 2021 US Green Building Council (USGBC) Middle East Leadership Award.

The Chamber was presented with the award during a virtual ceremony hosted by USGBC. The award recognised the Chamber for its outstanding efforts in creating healthier and more sustainable buildings and communities.

Dubai Chamber’s headquarters is a prime example of one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly buildings in the Middle East. The Chamber has achieved LEED Platinum certification three times over the last 15 years, which is a testament to its commitment to environmental stewardship.

Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chamber, said, “Dubai Chamber is honoured to be named a 2021 USGBC Regional Leadership Award recipient by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). This achievement reaffirms the Chamber’s commitment towards sustainability and being a role model for the business community.”

He explained that the Chamber’s headquarters building is one of the first buildings in the region to certify under LEED EB O+M followed by LEED Platinum re-certification over the years. He also noted that the campus of the University of Dubai, an initiative of Dubai Chamber, achieved LEED Gold certification for New Construction and LEED Platinum certification for Existing Building Operations and Management following the completion of a solar project. The university is currently pursuing LEED Zero certification.

Buamim noted that the newly constructed Dubai Chamber extension building has been designed in line with LEED Building Design & Construction standards at the Platinum level. The Chamber is currently pursuing LEED ARC Parksmart accreditations. The building will use Solar PV systems and wind turbines to generate its power.

“Following a difficult year, it is truly inspiring to recognise our green building leaders that have continued their commitment to green building and sustainable communities while adapting to the changing environments around us,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, USGBC. “The 2021 USGBC Leadership Award awardees have improved our world through the power of green building and it is their contributions and work that have helped our communities stay safe and healthy.”

The 2021 USGBC Leadership Award recipients represent some of the best of USGBC’s 10,000 member organisations, a network of committed professionals with more than 106,000 LEED commercial projects in more than 180 countries and territories around the world. The efforts of the awardees stand out as exceptional examples of sustainability leadership among a strong and growing network of projects, companies and individuals.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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DoH showcases Abu Dhabi’s successful response to COVID-19 at Arab Health 2021

ABU DHABI, Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is virtually participating at Arab Health 2021, which is hosting over 300 international and regional speakers and 5,200+ peers from 21-24 June, 2021 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

As part of its participation, DoH will exhibit a series of cutting edge initiatives developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while key speakers from DoH will share their insights, highlight trends in healthcare and host webinars on a range of issues.

Along with other healthcare innovators at the exhibition, DoH will be revealing its development and implementation of digital-driven health initiatives to highlight its ongoing efforts to further transform and improve the healthcare ecosystem in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This reveal includes innovative projects and platforms like Next Generation Nurses, Shiffa Program, OnVue Proctoring, Abu Dhabi Healthcare Quality Index, Health TechHub and more.

These projects have been successfully optimised and designed in collaboration with partners like Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Saal.ai, Khalifa University and others.

During the event, held under the theme of ‘Looking Ahead. Embracing Innovation’, key speakers from DoH and ADPHC will present and shed light on key trending topics in healthcare, including Dr. Farida Al Hosani, Executive Director of Communicable Diseases Department at the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), and Official Spokesperson of the UAE Health Sector; Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri, Executive Director of ADPHC’s Public Health Department; and Asma Ahmed Al Ameri, Head of the Quality Monitoring Section at DoH. Topics include the evolution of quality management in the tech and digital era, targeted healthcare for special groups during COVID-19 and infection control.

Dr. Hamed Ali Al Hashemi, Director of Strategy at DoH, said, “Abu Dhabi has stepped up and set new benchmarks for the world with its fight against the pandemic. The healthcare sector prioritised innovation from the outset of the pandemic. As a result, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and its partners have successfully solidified Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination in the healthcare sector.”

“DoH is delighted to be part of this global event and share Abu Dhabi’s experience, especially at such a critical moment in the healthcare community. Arab Health 2021 is an opportunity for us to showcase our current health and technology projects while sharing best practices, knowledge and insights with other healthcare innovators in the sector. We look forward to connecting and being part of broader conversations that are focused on the future of patient-centred healthcare; conversations that will hopefully propel Abu Dhabi’s healthcare system even further,” he added.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Emirates Literature Foundation’s story writing competition now open

DUBAI, The Emirates Literature Foundation’s search for the nation’s best young story writers has begun, with the launch of its annual creative writing competition for students, the Story Writing Competition.

A fixture on the academic calendar, the competition runs in Arabic and in English and is open to full-time students in schools, colleges and universities in the GCC. It is divided into age-specific categories: 11 and under, 12-14, 15-17 and 18-25. The winners will be honoured in a special ceremony held during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2022, and the winning entries are published in an anthology.

The competition is tremendously popular, with more than 3,600 stories being entered last year. This year the theme for the competitions is ‘Here Comes the Sun’. The deadline for submissions is 3rd November, 2021.

Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation, commented, “The 2022 theme can be seen as positive and uplifting, but we know from previous years that there is no end to the creativity with which young storytellers can interpret it. I can’t wait to see how the entrants this year develop their narratives as they unleash their imaginations.”

Source: Emirates News Agency