Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the region, today announced that three of its branches in the UAE have been awarded LEED® Gold certification, making it the first bank in the MENA region to launch LEED Gold-certified branches.

Emirates NBD’s branches in Arabian Centre, Umm Suqeim and Burj Khalifa branch have secured the prestigious LEED Gold certification, marking a significant milestone in the bank’s sustainability journey.

Commenting on the announcement, Ahmed AlSheryani, Executive Vice President, Head of Procurement & Realty Services, Emirates NBD, said: “We are pleased to receive LEED Gold certification for three Emirates NBD branches in Dubai, an achievement that further aligns our ongoing sustainability efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UAE Vision 2030, and the Dubai Declaration for Sustainable Finance. Emirates NBD remains committed to operating in a sustainable manner in complete alignment with international guidelines, industry best practice and the national vision.”

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

“LEED is a transformative tool that ensures a building is designed and operating to achieve high performance in key areas of human and environmental health while enhancing the triple bottom line – people, planet and profit,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “By prioritising sustainability, Emirates NBD is leading the way in its industry and helping USGBC continue toward our vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation.”

Emirates NBD strives to contribute to and invest in socially responsible programmes and solutions that address the United Nations SDGs, the UAE Vision 2030, and the United Nations Environmental Programme Dubai Declaration for Sustainable Finance that was launched during the UNEP FI (UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative)’s 14th Global Roundtable under the auspices of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. A regional pioneer in sustainability initiatives, the bank began formally reporting on its efforts in 2016 with the publication of its first Sustainability Report. Emirates NBD is also an active player in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arena, in addition to being a champion of private volunteering through its Exchanger programme. The key focus areas for Emirates NBD’s 2019 CSR programme included enhancing donation platforms, promoting financial literacy, encouraging volunteering efforts, and collaboration with corporate peers towards sustainable social responsibility.