Fujairah Hospital, managed by the Emirates Health Services (EHS), has become the first public hospital in the UAE to receive LEED Gold certification, a prestigious award from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for its adherence to high standards of environmental responsibility and energy efficiency, Emirates 24|7 reports. The achievement underscores EHS’s strategy to promote sustainability, resource efficiency and minimize the impact of healthcare facilities on the environment.
“Receiving the LEED Gold certification demonstrates our commitment to implementing the best environmental standards in healthcare facilities,” said Dr. Ahmed Obaid Al Khadim, Director of the hospital. “We are committed to not only reducing our carbon footprint, but also creating a comfortable and safe environment for both patients and staff.” He said the recognition from the USGBC was an important milestone in the government’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals in the healthcare system.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building Technologies
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is one of the world’s most respected systems for assessing the environmental performance of real estate. Buildings that receive this distinction must meet strict criteria in the areas of energy consumption, water use, waste management, indoor air quality and the selection of environmentally friendly materials.
According to Wahid Al Mulla, Director of Facilities Management and EHS Services, the achievement was the result of a coordinated environmental strategy implemented at all levels of the organization. “We are focused on implementing global sustainability standards, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. From energy consumption to materials, everything has been rethought through the lens of environmental responsibility,” he said.
The Fujairah Hospital is an example of how advanced technology and environmental thinking can change the way healthcare facilities are managed. This also lays the foundation for the expansion of similar practices in the rest of the country’s public healthcare institutions.
Systemic transformation of hospital infrastructure
To obtain the certificate, the hospital implemented a comprehensive modernization plan that included an energy audit, optimization of water consumption, implementation of effective waste management and transition to environmentally friendly building materials. Particular attention was paid to monitoring environmental performance indicators, which became a mandatory condition for compliance with LEED standards.
Under the supervision of the EHS Facilities Management Department, internal policies were developed for collecting and analyzing data on the impact of the building on the environment. It is thanks to such systematic work that Fujairah Hospital was able to fully comply with the certification requirements and receive a gold award, which is the benchmark for environmental responsibility in modern medical construction. This success can serve as an example for other public and private healthcare institutions in the UAE that seek to combine infrastructural development with the principles of environmental sustainability.