Asian-African Line
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multiple aspects of Estidama Program
facilitate compliance and demonstrated
and has been shared with multiple
through independent empirical analysis
stakeholders. These include global
that increased costs were negligible.
stakeholders, and the World Green
Early resistance has given way to
Building Council recently awarded
acceptance and support for the program
Estidama the Regional has Leadership
and benefits can be demonstrated
Award recognizing the impact it is
through evidence of resource savings
having on the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
and improved design.
and the MENA region. As Estidama becomes more recognised, it is also being implemented in other Emirates and countries in the region including Bahrain and the Seychelles.
Practice and Innovation 1. Revolutionary Innovation
Estidama is both evolutionary and 2. Challenge of the Initiative
revolutionary. There are sustainability
One of the key challenges facing
rating systems implemented all over
Estidama Program is policy constraint,
the globe that Estidama was able to
as many of the existing policies are
learn from and it also evolved from
outdated, failing to reflect the reality of the day and the development needs
Abu Dhabi’s founding fathers' original vision for the Emirate to be sustainable
for the future. Another challenge lies in
and responsible with resources to
how to make stakeholders realize the
benefit not just today’s society but
feasibility of the program, which is a
generations to follow.
very critical step leading to the success
Estidama is revolutionary as it
of Estidama. Challenges were identified
is the only sustainability program
during the initial role out of policies
designed and implemented in the
and regulation in the first 2 years
Middle East and has many unique
of implementation. Early resistance
features that other rating systems do
came from the industry sector who
not have. Estidama has been mandatory
believed that new sustainability
for all buildings from day one so that
requirements would increase costs and
bore potential significant risks and
make approval for developments more
required a significant shift in attitude
challenging. Estidama extensively
by a rapidly developing and ambitious
supported new developments to
construction industry.