The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has awarded the UAE Media Council building in Abu Dhabi and Dubai the “Humanized Buildings” certification, making it the first building in the UAE to receive this advanced classification.
The building was awarded this certification for meeting all requirements of the new national standards for “Humanizing Buildings,” developed by the Ministry as part of the third package of transformational projects aimed at achieving the “We the Emirates 2031” vision by building a prosperous, cohesive, and globally advanced society, in addition to supporting the UAE Vision 2071 towards a more sustainable and prosperous future.
His Excellency Eng. Hassan Mohammed Juma Al Mansouri, Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs at the Ministry, presented the “Humanized Buildings” certificate to His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, Secretary-General of the UAE Media Council. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Eng. Yousef Abdullah, Assistant Undersecretary for the Federal Infrastructure Projects Sector at the Ministry, and a number of officials from both sides, during the Ministry delegation’s visit to the Council’s headquarters in Dubai.
These standards are the first of their kind in the region and constitute a reference developed based on international best practices in human-friendly building design. They address multiple aspects focused on the health and psychological and physical comfort of users, such as improving indoor air quality, increasing reliance on natural lighting, achieving thermal comfort, reducing noise, and encouraging physical activity, in addition to considering cultural identity and the local climate in urban design.
This achievement coincides with the declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Community,” affirming the UAE’s commitment to placing people at the heart of urban planning and development. It reinforces its commitment to building smart and sustainable cities that take quality of life into account, as part of the country’s efforts to consolidate the concept of sustainable urban development.
His Excellency Engineer Hassan Al Mansouri said that developing national standards for humanizing buildings represents a qualitative shift in the country’s path towards enhancing smart and sustainable infrastructure. He pointed out that these standards establish clear foundations for creating more humane urban spaces and support the drive to build cities that take into account human needs, both health-wise and psychologically, thus enhancing public health and community well-being.
He pointed out that the Ministry will work to extend the application of these standards to future housing and infrastructure projects, calling on entities in both the public and private sectors to adopt them and benefit from the specialized Emirati certification, thus contributing to building a more prosperous and sustainable future for future generations.
For his part, His Excellency Mohammed Al Shehhi said that this achievement reflects the commitment to the vision of the wise leadership, which places people at the heart of the development process. It also contributes to achieving the goals of “We the Emirates 2031,” which places quality of life and sustainability at the core of its priorities and seeks to build a prosperous society that enjoys the highest levels of happiness, health, and a sustainable environment.
He emphasized the UAE Media Council’s commitment to adopting global best practices and applying advanced standards that address human rights, contributing to a healthy and stimulating work environment within the Council that promotes physical and mental health and supports environmental sustainability, positively impacting employee and partner happiness and raising productivity levels.
