The new headquarters of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a top-tier Islamic financial services institution, has been awarded the LEED Pre-Certification for Gold Rating from the US Green Building Council.

The building, which is under construction on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi and is due to be ready for occupancy in 2013, will be one of the first to have received such a certification in the UAE.

The design for the new ADIB HQ has concentrated on minimising energy and water intake and waste output, while maximising recycling and environmental quality. Energy efficiency measures will result in cost savings of over 23 percent by comparison with a conventional building; the atrium uses displacement ventilation to half the energy required for air conditioning, and the waste recycling strategy should save 50 per cent a year on Abu Dhabi Municipality charges.

Tirad Mahmoud, CEO of ADIB, noted the UAE government’s target of a 20 percent reduction in carbon footprint by 2015. “Our new headquarters demonstrate our support, which is confirmed by the Gold LEEDS certification. Recognizing innovative construction methods, sustainable use of resources and a design that prioritizes the needs of the wider environment and society, we have demonstrated that we are an environmentally aware bank.”

“The new ADIB HQ being built on Abu Dhabi’s Airport Road”