Dubai's Green Building Code expected by May

Green Building Code will apply to all new buildings in Dubai.

Dubai’s much-anticipated Green Building Code, already four months overdue, is expected to be introduced by May.

Essa Al Maidour, the assistant director general for engineering and planning sector, said the new rules, which apply to all developers and new buildings in the emirate, will be drawn up within a couple of months.

He said that the legislative regulations will be implemented in three phases.

“The first phase has been covered by issuing the DM circular on the Green building code. Dubai Municipality and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) are currently working with an International Consultant to put the green building regulations and their requirements for the second and third phases,” Maidour said.

The framework, which was originally due to be introduced on January 1, will be the first formal legislation on the environmental design of buildings.

Sustainable design guidelines already exist in the form of LEED and Estidama, however, this new legislation differs by being based on stringent regulations as opposed to recommendations and a point system.

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HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, directed in 2007 that all buildings constructed in Dubai should meet the new standard.

The Khaleej Times reported today that the delay was due to developers not being prepared to take on the regulations because of pressures from the global economic crisis.

A Dubai Municipality official said the regulations must be adhered to during all phases of construction work.

“Anyone who doesn’t comply with the regulations will be treated similar to the one who doesn’t comply with any building regulation,” the official said.

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