First published: 07-Dec-2023 11:36:04

• Shopping malls City Center Bahrain, City Center Deira and City Center Muscat join Mall of the Emirates with LEED Platinum certifications

• Sustainable initiatives aligned with the goals of COP28 include Food for the Future and sustainable billboards

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Majid Al Futtaim, the leading group in the development and management of shopping malls, retail and entertainment facilities in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, announced that three of its shopping centers in the region have obtained the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in the platinum category. This category is the highest level in the LEED green building rating system, the most widely used in the world in this field.

The certificate was awarded to the shopping malls City Center Bahrain (which received 84 points), City Center Deira (83 points) and City Center Muscat (82 points) in the category of operations and maintenance for existing buildings (LEED O+M: Existing Buildings), bringing the total number of affiliated shopping centers Majid Al Futtaim Group has 20 LEED certifications in the region. In addition, My City Center Masdar has achieved a three-pearl rating according to the Abu Dhabi Estidama Pearl Rating System.

The three shopping malls receiving LEED platinum certificates come after the Mall of the Emirates obtained the same certificate earlier this year, making it the largest mall in the world to receive this global accreditation. City Center Deira’s obtaining the LEED Platinum certification is of particular importance, given that it is the first shopping center affiliated with the Majid Al Futtaim Group, which represents evidence of the group’s commitment to sustainability and effective building management practices.

Majid Al Futtaim's many sustainability practices contributed to its shopping centers winning this rating, and these practices include a clear focus on the efficient use of water, including the use of highly efficient toilet facilities in all shopping centers, which significantly reduces water consumption, and ensuring access to... Convenient to public transportation, resulting in a high score when evaluating location and transportation.

The group also applies other practices in the sector, including following effective waste management strategies, such as waste reduction and segregation, which has a positive impact on the performance evaluation in the field of waste, in addition to energy-efficient lighting systems, and the current improvement of the efficiency of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to gain more points. In the energy and atmosphere category. The sustainability improvements that the group's shopping centers are currently undergoing also contribute to long-term sustainability and enrich the well-being and satisfaction of our customers.

Commenting on this issue, Khalifa Bin Brik, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, said: “In light of the UAE hosting the COP28 global conference, we at Majid Al Futtaim believe that it is our duty to contribute to protecting the environment to ensure a better future. Sustainability is the focus of our efforts.” And its main pillar, as we are the first company in the Middle East and North Africa region to adopt a positive bottom line strategy at the group level, and one of the first companies in the world to sign the Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment issued by the World Green Building Council. This confirms that the group’s shopping centers have received the highest rating. "Leed is a testament to our commitment to providing a responsible and sustainable shopping experience for all customers. We are confident that our efforts will serve as a beacon that guides our community, customers and business partners towards environmentally friendly solutions and methods that benefit people and nature."

Green Building Awards

Majid Al Futtaim Group’s shopping malls’ celebration of sustainability during the COP28 conference comes after the group’s recent achievements and honors in the field of environmental, social and corporate governance best practices worldwide, including the Mall of the Emirates’ win at the 2023 Middle East and North Africa Green Building Awards. This is due to its success in implementing the green operations and maintenance plan, which led to reducing waste generation and improving energy efficiency.

Food for the future

The initiatives also highlight a unique food rescue program launched by Mall of the Emirates called Food for the Future, which focuses on recovering edible food scraps from restaurants, cafes, the food court and food served to employees at the mall and reusing them for the benefit of communities. During the first two months of the pilot phase, this initiative succeeded in recovering more than 2,000 meals, equivalent to 15 kilograms of food per day, and protecting the environment from 2,050 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

Following the positive results achieved by the initiative during the pilot phase at Mall of the Emirates, Majid Al Futtaim decided to expand the program to include three new shopping malls, with expectations that the number of participating food and beverage outlets will triple and the scope of impact will significantly expand.

SHORE Certificate of Safety Excellence

Majid Al Futtaim recently announced a remarkable achievement by winning four SHORE Certificates of Safety Excellence. The awards include a platinum SHORE certificate for Mall of the Emirates, and gold SHORE certificates for three other malls belonging to the Majid Al Futtaim group in the UAE, namely City Center Deira, City Center Mirdif and City Center Al Zahia.

Sustainable billboards

Mall of the Emirates plans to launch sustainable and completely recyclable advertising panels, as part of initiatives aimed at contributing to the sector, as the panels use sustainable and reusable materials instead of gypsum.

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About Majid Al Futtaim

Founded in 1992, Majid Al Futtaim is a pioneer in the development and management of shopping malls, integrated cities, retail and entertainment facilities, with a presence in 16 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The company employs 46,000 employees, representing 114 nationalities, and receives 600 million customers annually in its shopping centers, communities and entertainment destinations.

The company has assets worth 66 billion dirhams, and also has the highest credit rating (BBB) for private institutions in the Middle East. The company announced its commitment to reaching the goal of “score positive” in the field of water and energy by 2040.

About Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management

Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates 29 shopping centers in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon and Oman. The company's portfolio includes "Mall of the Emirates", "Mall of Egypt", "Mall of Oman", "City Center" centers, and "My City Center" community shopping centers, in addition to five shopping complexes in partnership with the Sharjah government. The company also operates multi-channel services that include online shopping malls, a digital concierge service, the store of the future powered by artificial intelligence, and “Metaverse Mall,” the first shopping center in the digital space in the region. All of these facilities are supported by the fastest growing loyalty and rewards program in the UAE, SHARE, which provides customers with a more personalized, data-driven experience in shopping malls, along with many privileges, including access to a VIP lounge and smart parking. Majid Al Futtaim is working on developing hotels connected to or adjacent to shopping malls, which are distinguished by providing added value, comfort and exceptional experiences for visitors from the region and beyond and from the surrounding business communities.

Majid Al Futtaim owns 11 hotels in the United Arab Emirates and two hotels in Bahrain, which are managed under international brands such as Sheraton, Novotel, Ibis, Aloft, Hilton Garden Inn, and Kempinski, Pullman, Le Méridien, and The Westin.

In 2022, Majid Al Futtaim became the first and only group in the world to receive the prestigious LEED Platinum certification for all of its hotels.

© Press Release 2023