United Arab Emirates updates green building and industrial facade regulations

The United Arab Emirates is implementing new regulatory frameworks for construction and industrial property. In Dubai, green building compliance has become mandatory for obtaining project permits and completion certificates. A significant upcoming change is the 2026 update to Al Sa’fat requirements, which will introduce a Sustainable Materials Passport. This digital registry will track structural materials, quantities, suppliers, and embodied carbon data, and Dubai Municipality will require this filing before issuing Building Completion Certificates.

In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Municipalities and Transport, via the Urban Planning and Parks Committee, has introduced unified facade standards for industrial buildings, starting in the Mussafah area. These standards aim to improve the aesthetic, safety, and operational integrity of industrial zones. The policy follows a phased implementation approach to allow property owners to upgrade existing facilities to meet new environmental and safety benchmarks.