We’re proud to announce the renewal of our partnership with Emirates Green Building Council; a continued commitment to driving sustainable practices and advancing the UAE’s green building movement.
At Summertown Interiors, we champion collaboration as a powerful force for change. Together with EmiratesGBC, we aim to foster a hub of excellence and innovation to promote the sustainability of the built environment across the UAE.
Building on a Foundation of Shared Vision
This renewed collaboration marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of sustainable development within the UAE’s built environment. For over 25 years, Summertown Interiors has established itself as the UAE’s most sustainable interior fit-out contractor, championing innovative workplace solutions with measurable environmental impact.
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), formed in 2006, serves as a pivotal non-government organisation dedicated to fostering sustainability, acting as a catalyst for collaboration and a hub for excellence within the UAE’s built environment.
The decision to renew this partnership is more than a formality; it represents a deepening of an established, effective alliance that has consistently demonstrated its value in advancing green building principles. This sustained commitment acknowledges the inherently long-term and evolving nature of sustainability challenges. Both organisations recognise that achieving ambitious national goals, such as the UAE Net Zero 2050 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Plan, necessitates consistent, collaborative action over many decades.
Driving Tangible Impact: Our Collaborative Journey
This renewed partnership translates directly into concrete actions and measurable results, particularly through Summertown’s comprehensive JOURNEY2030 Strategy.
This ambitious roadmap aims to lead the UAE’s fit-out market by delivering 100% green-certified projects by the end of the decade. To achieve this, Summertown Interiors meticulously embeds green practices into every facet of its operations, from smarter resource use and certified project delivery to more responsible supply chains.
Summertown Interiors’ expertise spans globally recognised green building standards, including LEED, WELL, Estidama, and Al Sa’fat. This diverse proficiency ensures that spaces are not only healthy and efficient but also third-party verified.
A significant demonstration of this commitment is the complimentary LEED certification offered for projects exceeding 2,000 square metres, which helps clients unlock the value of sustainability without additional costs. This proactive approach to encouraging higher sustainability standards directly influences market expectations and increases the volume of certified green projects across the region.
In 2024, 21% of Summertown’s projects achieved LEED accreditation, reflecting the company’s strong commitment to sustainable fit-out practices. This achievement reinforces Summertown’s leadership in delivering certified green projects and aligns with its strategic goal of reaching 100% green-certified projects by 2030. By prioritising sustainability at the core of its operations, Summertown continues to set a benchmark for the fit-out industry in Dubai.
Summertown Interiors demonstrates a robust commitment to waste reduction, achieving a 58% diversion rate of project waste from landfills in 2024. This progress is driven by detailed pre-site audits and consistent monthly waste tracking, aligning with the company’s Zero Waste to Landfill goal for 2030.
Shaping the Future of Sustainable Built Environments
EmiratesGBC plays a crucial role as a “catalyst for collaboration and a hub for excellence” in promoting sustainability across the UAE’s built environment. Their strategic objectives include advocating for policy changes to strengthen sustainability and hosting events, such as their Annual Congress, which calls for “bold policy changes” and aligns with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 roadmap.
This positions EmiratesGBC as a critical driver of the regulatory environment. Summertown Interiors’ partnership provides invaluable foresight and the ability to proactively adapt and innovate, maintaining a competitive edge by participating in the discourse that shapes these evolving standards.
The combination of Summertown’s practical, project-level implementation, exemplified by our complimentary LEED certification and impressive waste diversion rates, and EmiratesGBC’s broader advocacy and educational initiatives creates a powerful synergy. EmiratesGBC offers training and workshops to build capacity in green buildings, promoting and educating on green issues. This dual approach demonstrated leadership and practical application by a market leader, coupled with broad education, advocacy, and capacity building by a key council, fosters rapid market transformation and widespread adoption of sustainable practices across the UAE. This holistic approach to sustainable fit-out extends beyond mere compliance, positioning Summertown as a comprehensive solution provider rather than just a contractor.
The renewed partnership is strategically aligned with the UAE’s overarching national sustainability agenda, including the ambitious UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy and the Dubai 2040 Urban Plan. This collaboration positions both organisations as active and influential contributors to the nation’s strategic economic and environmental future, moving beyond individual project successes to impact national-level objectives. The economic and environmental benefits of green buildings are increasingly evident, with LEED-certified buildings achieving an average of 18% lower utility costs and Al Sa’fat certified buildings demonstrating significant energy savings.
A Call to Collective Action
The renewed partnership is more than a signature on a certificate. It is a call for architects, developers and corporate occupiers to join a growing movement. Whether you are planning a new sustainable office fit-out in Dubai or upgrading an existing space, Summertown and EmiratesGBC stand ready to share practical insight, proven frameworks and honest metrics.
By combining rigorous project execution with forward-thinking policy, the two organisations demonstrate that sustainability is not a cost to bear but a value to unlock.
Together we can construct workplaces that support employee wellbeing, safeguard natural resources and deliver lasting commercial returns. One certified project at a time, the UAE’s greener future is already taking shape.
