Dubai Land Department said it has been awarded membership to the executive committee of the Global Alliance for Building and Construction Assembly (GABC) along with prestigious international organisations from five other countries.

An initiative of the United Nations ‘Paris Agreement, the GABC Assembly includes more than 50 countries and 25 international organisations specialised in energy, buildings, real estate, construction, and green buildings.

Several countries were nominated, including the UAE, and more than 75 permanent member organisations and countries were eligible to cast their votes to form the committee.

The process resulted in the election of six countries: the UAE, represented by DLD, as well as Germany, Morocco, Switzerland, Tunisia and Ukraine.

The membership was awarded to DLD during the two-day GABC Assembly held in Dubai. It was inaugurated by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, in the presence of Sultan Butti bin Mejren, Director General of DLD.

At the event, the participants stressed the importance of introducing sustainability and green building concepts to real estate projects.

The assembly also saw meetings between GABC’s five committees, which specialise in investment, sustainability, information, education, and awareness and membership, and the nomination of executive committee and governing council members who will hold tenure for the next two years.

On the GABC membership, Bin Mejren said: "DLD is considered a UAE founding member of the GABC alliance, which was first signed in cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the French Government during the Paris World Climate Change Conference in December 2015."

"This is part of a bilateral cooperation between France and the UAE, and represents a global achievement that highlights the ongoing efforts of our national institutions to conserve the environment and adopt and develop the latest standards to achieve green and sustainable building," he stated.

Bin Mejren said: "The elections were held for the first time since the assembly was founded and resulted in the formation of an interim committee that will handle all responsibilities for two years, with the UAE represented by DLD."

"The meetings included the unanimous approval of the 2018 budget, discussions about the work plan and membership of the Board of Directors for the next two years, and the selection of new members," he added.-TradeArabia News Service