Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council certifies first Estidama Pearl-Qualified Professionals

The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has certified the first batch of Estidama Pearl-Qualified Professionals (PQP), a designation which ensures that architects, engineers and urban designers have achieved a higher level of competence in the application and assessment of the Estidama Pearl Rating System (PRS).

The 186 PQP-qualified professionals can now officially apply the Pearl Rating System for communities or buildings facilitating the certification process of each development while providing quality assurance to documents prior to application submission for planning and building permit approval.

"These men and women who successfully completed the PQP exam following initial training and extensive private study will give rise to a new generation of professionals who will lead Abu Dhabi's journey to a sustainable future," said H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council.

"Their achievement underpins the progression of the Pearl Rating System programme and proves the significant appeal Estidama commands amongst the professional community specializing in sustainable development," added Al Ahbabi. 

Estidama, which is the Arabic word for sustainability, is an initiative developed and promoted by the UPC. 

Estidama is the intellectual legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and a manifestation of visionary governance promoting thoughtful and responsible development while creating a balanced society on four equal pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, social, and cultural. The goal of Estidama is to preserve and enrich Abu Dhabi's physical and cultural identity, while constantly striving to improve quality of life for its residents.

The Pearl Rating System, one of the first initiatives of the Estidama programme, is a framework for sustainable design, construction and operation of communities, buildings and villas. The Pearl Rating System is unique in the world in that it is an integrated government initiative and specifically tailored to the hot climate and arid environment of Abu Dhabi. There are three rating systems: Villa, Building and Community.