Sama Dubai, the international real estate investment and development arm of Dubai Holding, has joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) GCC States network, committing to align its business operations to the UNGC principles.

Sama Dubai is one of the founding members of UNGC, when the initiative was set up in 2006 to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on them.

Under the Compact, companies are brought together with UN agencies, labour groups and civil society.

The concept received further fillip with the launch of UNGC GCC States network earlier this month, under the patronage of Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Executive Council Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

At the launch, Sama Dubai was awarded, along with 17 other companies in the region, for its pioneering role in bringing the UN initiative to the region.

As a member of the UNGC and its GCC States network, Sama Dubai will align its corporate social responsibility strategy with 10 universally accepted principles in human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

The membership mandates Sama Dubai to demonstrate leadership in advancing responsible corporate citizenship, managing risks by taking a proactive stance on critical issues, and producing practical solutions to contemporary problems related to globalisation and sustainable development in a multi-stakeholder context.

Sama Dubai, in turn, can leverage the UNGC's global reach for convening power with governments, business, civil society and other stakeholders. The UNGC GCC network will also offer a practical platform for sharing good practices and learning, while providing an access to the UNGC's broad knowledge in development issues.

“Sama Dubai is a socially responsible entity that is dedicated to energising and internally improving its systems, while opening doors for its employees to achieve enhanced performance excellence,” said executive chairman, Sama Dubai, Farhan Faraidooni.

”Our presence in the UNGC and its GCC network will contribute to the improvement of our Corporate Social Responsibility management, as well as boost employee morale, productivity, and operational efficiencies.”

Sama Dubai will annually issue a Communication on Progress report to demonstrate the success achieved in the integration of the 10 principles into its business activities, and the organisation’s support of the broader UN goals.

The report, which will be shared publicly with stakeholders and posted on the UNGC website, will serve as a tool to excel in leadership, facilitate learning and stimulate dialogue.

As the world's largest, voluntary global corporate citizenship initiative, the UNCG is the first and foremost programme concerned with exhibiting and building the social legitimacy of businesses and markets. It has more than 4,000 members in over 120 countries.

Though not a regulatory instrument, the Global Compact upholds public accountability and transparency. It also relies on the collective cooperation of companies, labour and the civil society to initiate and share substantive action in pursuing the principles on which the Global Compact is founded. – TradeArabia News Service