Abu Dhabi is one of the fastest developed cities in the region. On top of all the current and future environmental challenges, Abu Dhabi aims to be among the top governments in the world in sustainable development. Abu Dhabi plans to create an attractive, livable and sustainable managed urban environment in which all necessary services and infrastructure are provided in a sustainable and timely manner. Abu Dhabi is engaged in a difficult challenge to develop credible environmental indicators that would assess the ambitious environmental targets. The aim of those indicators is to provide reliable guidance to decision makers and the public concerning key factors that determine the state of urban environment and identify major areas for policy intervention. In order to ensure sustainable development in UAE in general, and of Abu Dhabi City in particular, relevant and contextual environmental indicators need to be carefully considered. These indicators provide a gauge at a national government scale of how close countries are to establish environmental policy goals. The environment indicators assist city decision-making in such areas as identification of significant environmental aspects and observation of environmental performance trends. Those can help to find ways of reducing environmental pollution and in improving eco-efficiency. This paper outlines recent strategies implemented in Abu Dhabi that aims to improve the sustainable performance of the city-s built environment. The paper explores the variety of current and possible indicators at different levels and their roles in the development of the city.
[1] Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Policy agenda 2007-2008,The Emirate of
AbuDhabi, UAE.
[2] K. Aljunadi& H. Alqawasmeh, Sustainable development (SD) and
Green building in UAE report, Abu Dhabi, UAE 2011.
[3] AMEinfo,Emirates Green Building Council announces first LEEDcertified
green building in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle
East. Dubai, UAE 2006. (Online):Available:
http://www.ameinfo.com/90936.html (Accessed 5-3-2011 2011).
[4] C. Atkinson, A. Yates & M Wayatt, Sustainability in the Built
Environment: An Introduction to Its Definition and Measurement. IHS
BRE Press, 2009.
[5] P.S. Brandon & P. Lombardi,Evaluating Sustainable Development in the
Built Environment.2nd ed. ,John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (UK), 2011.
[6] BREEAM,BREEAM: the Environmental Assessment Method for
Buildings aroundthe World. 2010. (Online). Available:
http://www.breeam.org/index.jsp (Accessed 28 July, 2010).
[7] BREEM, BREEAM Gulf. 2011. (Online), Available:
http://www.breeam.org/page.jsp?id=196, (Accessed 6-3-2011).
[8] Environment Agency EAD, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, Abu
Dhabi 2009. (Online), Available: http://www.ead.ae/en/en-us/ (Accessed
9-4-2011).
[9] Environment Agency EAD, State of the Abu DhabiEnvironment, Abu
Dhabi, 2011. (Online), Available:
http://www.soe.ae/SOEPages/Energy.aspx?page=Energy (Accessed 20-
06-2011).
[10] K. Elgendy, Comparing Estidama-s Pearls Rating System to LEED and
BREEAM. 2010 (Online). Available:
http://www.carboun.com/sustainable-development/sustainabledesign/
comparing-estidama%E2%80%99s-pearls-rating-method-to-leedand-
breeam/ (Accessed 17-11-2010).
[11] GBC, Emirates Green Building Council, Dubai, 2011. (Online).
Available: http://www.emiratesgbc.org (Accessed 5-3- 2011).
[12] Urban Planning Council, Pearl Rating System and Tools, Abu Dhabi,
2010. (Online). Available: http://estidama.org/pearl-rating-system.aspx
(Accessed 17-11-2010).
[13] GBC, LEED, Dubai, 2010 (Online). Available:
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19 (Accessed 17-
11-2010).
[14] N.Halberg&others,Environmental assessment tools for the evaluation
and improvement of European livestock production system,. Livestock
Production Science, 2005, vol. 96, 33-50.
[15] HARTMAN, H. 2008. Greening the Gulf. Architects' journal, 228, 35-
38.
[16] S.M. Hernández &D. H. Martinez, 2010. Indicators of Urban
sustainability in Mexico, vol. 5, Romania, 2010, pp 46-60.
[17] J.Aljaberi&A. Kumar,Abu Dhabi Environmental Indicators, Abu Dhabi,
2011.
[18] M. Manibo, First Project under Clean Development Mechanism in
UAEgets approval, 2007. (Online). Abu Dhabi: AME Info FZ.
Available: http://www.ameinfo.com/128145.html (Accessed
20/10/2010).
[19] R. M. Masnavi,Measuring urban sustainability: Developing a
conceptual framework for bridging the gap between theoretical levels
and the operational levels, International Journal of Environmental
Research,vol 1, 2007, pp. 188-197.
[20] T. Mezher, T. Tabbara& N. Hosani, An overview of CSR in the
renewable energy sector: Examples from the Masdar Initiative in Abu
Dhabi. Management of Environmental Quality: An International
Journal, vol. 21, 2010, pp. 744 - 760.
[21] Mubadala,Masdara Mubadalacompany, Abu Dhabi, 2011, (Online).
ABU DHABI Available: http://www.masdar.ae/en/home/index.aspx
(Accessed 20-06-2011).
[22] E. N. Nassar, NASSAR, Green building in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi,
UAE, 2012.
[23] M. Picow,PICOW, Masdar City's Dream of 100% Sustainability an
Example for Other Countries, 2009. Available:
http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/12/masdar-city/.
[24] H. Radhi,On the Effect of Global Warming and the UAE Built
Environment,InTech, Chapter 6, UAE, 2010.
[25] REICHE, D. 2010. Renewable Energy Policies in the Gulf countries: A
case study of the carbon-neutral "Masdar City" in Abu Dhabi. Energy
Policy, 38, 378-382.
[26] A. Rivera, International Applications of Building Certification Methods:
A Comparison of BREEAM and LEED, Passive and Low Energy
Architecture. Quebec City, Canada, 2009.
[27] Y. Roderick, D. MCEWAN, C. WHEATLEY& C. ALONSO,
CompeiaonCOMPARISON OF ENERGY PERFORMANCE
ASSESSMENT BETWEEN LEED, BREEAM AND GREEN STAR.
Eleventh International IBPSA Conference. Scotland.
[28] Y. Saadah, Estidama Implementation at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi
City. Abu Dhabi, 2011.
[29] P. Sharma, ESTIDAMA (Pearl) vs. LEED: A Discussion on Rating
systems and Sustainability in the Middle East. Cambridge, 2010.
(Online). Cambridge: mitmeydan. Available:
http://mitmeydan.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/estidama-pearl-vs-leed-adiscussion-
on-rating-systems-and-sustainability-in-the-middle-east/
(Accessed 17-11-2010).
[30] K. Singh,H. R. Murty, S. K. Gupta& A. K. Dikshit,. 2012. An overview
of sustainability assessment methodologies. Ecological Indicators, vol.15
,2012, pp. 281-299.
[31] D. Stewart, BREEAM to launch in the Gulf.2008 (Online).
Available:http://www.building.co.uk/sustain_story.asp?sectioncode=779
&storycode=3125190&c=3 (Accessed 16-11-2010).
[32] B. Stukwell& S. Lindabury, Masdar evaluating the world-s most
sustainable city. 2008 Available:
http://courses.cit.cornell.edu/crp384/2008reports/07MASDAR.pdf.
[33] UN. 2010. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (Online). Available:
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/mechanisms/clean_development_mecha
nism/items/2718.php (Accessed 20/10/2010).
[34] UNDP. 2011. UNDP in the United Arab Emirates (Online). Abu Dhabi.
Available: http://www.undp.org.ae/undpuae/ (Accessed 1-4-2011 2011).
[35] United Nations, Report of the World Commission on Environment and
Development, , General Assembly Resolution, 1986, 42/187.
[36] United Nations,The United Nations Programme of Action From Rio.
United Nations. New York, 1992.
[37] UPC, Estidama. 2011. (Online). Abu Dhabi. Available:
http://www.upc.gov.ae/estidama.aspx?lang=en-US (Accessed 13-3-
2011).
[38] UPC, EAD& ADM, ESTIDAMA:Sustainable Buildings and
Communities and Buildings Program for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Abu
Dhabi, 2008.
[39] P. Ward, BREEAM Gulf launched. Dubai, 2008 (Online). Dubai, UAE:
Construction Week online Available:
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-3966-breeam-gulflaunched/
(Accessed 16-11-2010).
[40] J. Wilson, P. Tyedmers& R. Pelot, Contrasting and comparing
sustainable development indicator metrics. Ecological Indicators, vol.7,
2007,pp.299-314.
[41] WINSTON, N. & PAREJA EASTAWAY, M. 2008. Sustainable
Housing in the Urban Context: International Sustainable Development
Indicator Sets and Housing. Social Indicators Research, 87, 211-221.
[42] S. Writer, Emirates LEED system launched. Dubai, 2007. (Online).
Arabian business.com. Available:
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/emirates-leed-system-launched-
54214.html (Accessed 5-3-2011).
[43] WWF-UAE, WWF United Arab Emirates office, Abu Dhabi, 2011.
(Online). Abu Dhabi. Available:
http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/united_arab_emirates/
(Accessed 7-4-2011).
[44] WWF, Living plant report, 2010. (Online). Available:
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_rep
ort/ (Accessed 7 june, 2010).
[45] ZAWAYA,UAE's giant footprint. 2010. (Online). Available:
http://www.zawya.com/marketing.cfm?zp&p=/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20
100506033140?q=UAE%20giant%20footprint (Accessed 21 July,
2010).
[1] Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Policy agenda 2007-2008,The Emirate of
AbuDhabi, UAE.
[2] K. Aljunadi& H. Alqawasmeh, Sustainable development (SD) and
Green building in UAE report, Abu Dhabi, UAE 2011.
[3] AMEinfo,Emirates Green Building Council announces first LEEDcertified
green building in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle
East. Dubai, UAE 2006. (Online):Available:
http://www.ameinfo.com/90936.html (Accessed 5-3-2011 2011).
[4] C. Atkinson, A. Yates & M Wayatt, Sustainability in the Built
Environment: An Introduction to Its Definition and Measurement. IHS
BRE Press, 2009.
[5] P.S. Brandon & P. Lombardi,Evaluating Sustainable Development in the
Built Environment.2nd ed. ,John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (UK), 2011.
[6] BREEAM,BREEAM: the Environmental Assessment Method for
Buildings aroundthe World. 2010. (Online). Available:
http://www.breeam.org/index.jsp (Accessed 28 July, 2010).
[7] BREEM, BREEAM Gulf. 2011. (Online), Available:
http://www.breeam.org/page.jsp?id=196, (Accessed 6-3-2011).
[8] Environment Agency EAD, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, Abu
Dhabi 2009. (Online), Available: http://www.ead.ae/en/en-us/ (Accessed
9-4-2011).
[9] Environment Agency EAD, State of the Abu DhabiEnvironment, Abu
Dhabi, 2011. (Online), Available:
http://www.soe.ae/SOEPages/Energy.aspx?page=Energy (Accessed 20-
06-2011).
[10] K. Elgendy, Comparing Estidama-s Pearls Rating System to LEED and
BREEAM. 2010 (Online). Available:
http://www.carboun.com/sustainable-development/sustainabledesign/
comparing-estidama%E2%80%99s-pearls-rating-method-to-leedand-
breeam/ (Accessed 17-11-2010).
[11] GBC, Emirates Green Building Council, Dubai, 2011. (Online).
Available: http://www.emiratesgbc.org (Accessed 5-3- 2011).
[12] Urban Planning Council, Pearl Rating System and Tools, Abu Dhabi,
2010. (Online). Available: http://estidama.org/pearl-rating-system.aspx
(Accessed 17-11-2010).
[13] GBC, LEED, Dubai, 2010 (Online). Available:
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19 (Accessed 17-
11-2010).
[14] N.Halberg&others,Environmental assessment tools for the evaluation
and improvement of European livestock production system,. Livestock
Production Science, 2005, vol. 96, 33-50.
[15] HARTMAN, H. 2008. Greening the Gulf. Architects' journal, 228, 35-
38.
[16] S.M. Hernández &D. H. Martinez, 2010. Indicators of Urban
sustainability in Mexico, vol. 5, Romania, 2010, pp 46-60.
[17] J.Aljaberi&A. Kumar,Abu Dhabi Environmental Indicators, Abu Dhabi,
2011.
[18] M. Manibo, First Project under Clean Development Mechanism in
UAEgets approval, 2007. (Online). Abu Dhabi: AME Info FZ.
Available: http://www.ameinfo.com/128145.html (Accessed
20/10/2010).
[19] R. M. Masnavi,Measuring urban sustainability: Developing a
conceptual framework for bridging the gap between theoretical levels
and the operational levels, International Journal of Environmental
Research,vol 1, 2007, pp. 188-197.
[20] T. Mezher, T. Tabbara& N. Hosani, An overview of CSR in the
renewable energy sector: Examples from the Masdar Initiative in Abu
Dhabi. Management of Environmental Quality: An International
Journal, vol. 21, 2010, pp. 744 - 760.
[21] Mubadala,Masdara Mubadalacompany, Abu Dhabi, 2011, (Online).
ABU DHABI Available: http://www.masdar.ae/en/home/index.aspx
(Accessed 20-06-2011).
[22] E. N. Nassar, NASSAR, Green building in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi,
UAE, 2012.
[23] M. Picow,PICOW, Masdar City's Dream of 100% Sustainability an
Example for Other Countries, 2009. Available:
http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/12/masdar-city/.
[24] H. Radhi,On the Effect of Global Warming and the UAE Built
Environment,InTech, Chapter 6, UAE, 2010.
[25] REICHE, D. 2010. Renewable Energy Policies in the Gulf countries: A
case study of the carbon-neutral "Masdar City" in Abu Dhabi. Energy
Policy, 38, 378-382.
[26] A. Rivera, International Applications of Building Certification Methods:
A Comparison of BREEAM and LEED, Passive and Low Energy
Architecture. Quebec City, Canada, 2009.
[27] Y. Roderick, D. MCEWAN, C. WHEATLEY& C. ALONSO,
CompeiaonCOMPARISON OF ENERGY PERFORMANCE
ASSESSMENT BETWEEN LEED, BREEAM AND GREEN STAR.
Eleventh International IBPSA Conference. Scotland.
[28] Y. Saadah, Estidama Implementation at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi
City. Abu Dhabi, 2011.
[29] P. Sharma, ESTIDAMA (Pearl) vs. LEED: A Discussion on Rating
systems and Sustainability in the Middle East. Cambridge, 2010.
(Online). Cambridge: mitmeydan. Available:
http://mitmeydan.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/estidama-pearl-vs-leed-adiscussion-
on-rating-systems-and-sustainability-in-the-middle-east/
(Accessed 17-11-2010).
[30] K. Singh,H. R. Murty, S. K. Gupta& A. K. Dikshit,. 2012. An overview
of sustainability assessment methodologies. Ecological Indicators, vol.15
,2012, pp. 281-299.
[31] D. Stewart, BREEAM to launch in the Gulf.2008 (Online).
Available:http://www.building.co.uk/sustain_story.asp?sectioncode=779
&storycode=3125190&c=3 (Accessed 16-11-2010).
[32] B. Stukwell& S. Lindabury, Masdar evaluating the world-s most
sustainable city. 2008 Available:
http://courses.cit.cornell.edu/crp384/2008reports/07MASDAR.pdf.
[33] UN. 2010. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (Online). Available:
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/mechanisms/clean_development_mecha
nism/items/2718.php (Accessed 20/10/2010).
[34] UNDP. 2011. UNDP in the United Arab Emirates (Online). Abu Dhabi.
Available: http://www.undp.org.ae/undpuae/ (Accessed 1-4-2011 2011).
[35] United Nations, Report of the World Commission on Environment and
Development, , General Assembly Resolution, 1986, 42/187.
[36] United Nations,The United Nations Programme of Action From Rio.
United Nations. New York, 1992.
[37] UPC, Estidama. 2011. (Online). Abu Dhabi. Available:
http://www.upc.gov.ae/estidama.aspx?lang=en-US (Accessed 13-3-
2011).
[38] UPC, EAD& ADM, ESTIDAMA:Sustainable Buildings and
Communities and Buildings Program for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Abu
Dhabi, 2008.
[39] P. Ward, BREEAM Gulf launched. Dubai, 2008 (Online). Dubai, UAE:
Construction Week online Available:
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-3966-breeam-gulflaunched/
(Accessed 16-11-2010).
[40] J. Wilson, P. Tyedmers& R. Pelot, Contrasting and comparing
sustainable development indicator metrics. Ecological Indicators, vol.7,
2007,pp.299-314.
[41] WINSTON, N. & PAREJA EASTAWAY, M. 2008. Sustainable
Housing in the Urban Context: International Sustainable Development
Indicator Sets and Housing. Social Indicators Research, 87, 211-221.
[42] S. Writer, Emirates LEED system launched. Dubai, 2007. (Online).
Arabian business.com. Available:
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/emirates-leed-system-launched-
54214.html (Accessed 5-3-2011).
[43] WWF-UAE, WWF United Arab Emirates office, Abu Dhabi, 2011.
(Online). Abu Dhabi. Available:
http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/united_arab_emirates/
(Accessed 7-4-2011).
[44] WWF, Living plant report, 2010. (Online). Available:
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_rep
ort/ (Accessed 7 june, 2010).
[45] ZAWAYA,UAE's giant footprint. 2010. (Online). Available:
http://www.zawya.com/marketing.cfm?zp&p=/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20
100506033140?q=UAE%20giant%20footprint (Accessed 21 July,
2010).
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:58843", author = "Huda Al Salmi and Hisham Al Kadi and Simone Leao", title = "Environmental Assessment Methods in Abu Dhabi", abstract = "Abu Dhabi is one of the fastest developed cities in the region. On top of all the current and future environmental challenges, Abu Dhabi aims to be among the top governments in the world in sustainable development. Abu Dhabi plans to create an attractive, livable and sustainable managed urban environment in which all necessary services and infrastructure are provided in a sustainable and timely manner. Abu Dhabi is engaged in a difficult challenge to develop credible environmental indicators that would assess the ambitious environmental targets. The aim of those indicators is to provide reliable guidance to decision makers and the public concerning key factors that determine the state of urban environment and identify major areas for policy intervention. In order to ensure sustainable development in UAE in general, and of Abu Dhabi City in particular, relevant and contextual environmental indicators need to be carefully considered. These indicators provide a gauge at a national government scale of how close countries are to establish environmental policy goals. The environment indicators assist city decision-making in such areas as identification of significant environmental aspects and observation of environmental performance trends. Those can help to find ways of reducing environmental pollution and in improving eco-efficiency. This paper outlines recent strategies implemented in Abu Dhabi that aims to improve the sustainable performance of the city-s built environment. The paper explores the variety of current and possible indicators at different levels and their roles in the development of the city.
", keywords = "Abu Dhabi, Sustainable Development, Indicators, Assessment Methods.", volume = "7", number = "6", pages = "1713-9", }
