Aldar Properties PJSC has released its 2021 Sustainability Report, showcasing the continued evolution of its sustainability strategy, in alignment with international best practice and supported by enhanced governance and data collection. The report also highlights the progress the company has made across its four sustainability pillars of environment, economy, community and people.
By focusing on data quality, Aldar was able to close gaps in data collection and strengthen its capabilities and processes, paving the way for more detailed and stronger reporting of sustainability metrics. This included the launch of a new data management system to streamline reporting across the group and to track more than 500 non-financial KPIs across the ESG spectrum.
Talal Al-Dhiyebi, chief executive of Aldar, said: “The steps we have taken in 2021 to prioritize the environment and impose on ourselves greater accountability and transparency are fully aligned with UAE’s robust sustainability agenda and global international ESG standards.”
Environment
To bolster its commitment to the environment, the company has strengthened its alignment with sustainability best practices and the UAE’s net-zero targets and is working on its own Net-Zero Action Plan, the details of which are due to be announced later in 2022. In 2021, Aldar also took significant measures to reduce energy consumption across its portfolio by 20 percent. The group’s retrofit project is expected to remove 80,000 tons of carbon emissions annually across the company’s 80 hotel, school, commercial, leisure and residential assets.
Economy
Through its involvement with the national In-Country Value (ICV) program, Aldar prioritizes engaging with local contractors, consultants and suppliers (including SMEs) to reinvest in the local economy. During 2021, Aldar recirculated AED8.8 billion to the local economy through ICV. Aldar Projects also signed development project contracts worth AED8.5 billion, including 16 contracts with UAE‑based companies.
Community
Last year, through its CSR programs, numerous initiatives were supported to benefit wider communities, which are managed in partnership with organizations such as Sandooq Al-Watan, Ma’an, UAE Team Emirates and Special Olympics UAE.
In 2021, Aldar also signed an MoU with Zayed Higher Organization to create opportunities and provide greater accessibility for people of determination.
People
Reflecting Aldar’s commitment to Emiratization, the company brought the percentage of UAE nationals in the corporate workforce to 35 percent from 29 percent in 2020. At the same time, the proportion of women employed at Aldar rose to 42 percent in 2021, up from 31 percent in 2020.
