Estidama, which translates to “sustainability” in Arabic, serves as a green building certification program implemented by the Abu Dhabi government. It advocates for sustainable urban planning and development, emphasizing factors such as sustainability, infrastructure capability, and the overall quality of life.
Utilizing the Pearl Rating System (PRS), this initiative assesses the sustainability performance of both buildings and communities. It aligns with the vision of Abu Dhabi 2030 and complements the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s endeavors to enhance education, employment opportunities, and overall living standards.
The Estidama’s Pearl Rating System (PRS) evaluates the sustainability of various structures through distinct rating systems:
1. The Pearl Building Rating System (PBRS) is designed for both new and existing buildings, encompassing commercial and residential structures.
2. The Pearl Villa Rating System (PVRS) is specifically tailored for standalone villas, requiring a minimum of 1 Pearl rating for new villas.
3. The Pearl Community Rating System (PCRS) assesses large developments, emphasizing sustainable practices in land use, transportation, and the preservation of natural resources.
The ratings range from 1 to 5 Pearls, indicating the level of sustainability, with 5 representing the highest achievement in sustainability.
The PRS evaluates structures, neighborhoods, and residences using a 1 to 5 Pearl rating system:
– 1 Pearl: Meets basic sustainability standards.
– 2 Pearls: Demonstrates a significant enhancement in sustainability.
– 3 Pearls: Exhibits advanced sustainability features.
– 4 Pearls: Reflects outstanding sustainability performance.
– 5 Pearls: Represents a globally leading standard in sustainability.
Attaining each level involves meeting a combination of obligatory and elective criteria across various categories such as energy, water, and indoor quality.
– Pre-Design Stage: Training involves adherence to Estidama Certificate principles and PRS requirements established by the Urban Planning Council (UPC).
– Design Phase: Initial design aims to fulfill PRS standards, followed by a thorough review process.
– Submission Step: Comprehensive design documentation is submitted to UPC, and achieving higher ratings may necessitate third-party verification.
– Construction Stage: On-site checks are conducted to validate compliance with PRS.
– Post-Construction Phase: Submission of documentation demonstrating PRS-compliant construction, leading to the attainment of a Pearl Construction Rating.
– Operational Phase (Community): Post-occupancy assessment for Pearl Operation Rating, with periodic evaluations to ensure ongoing compliance.
The certification process incorporates feedback loops to guarantee sustainability throughout the entire project lifecycle.
As ERKE, our team of accredited Green Building experts has been providing consulting services for over 150 Green Building projects since 2007. We are currently actively involved in consulting for more than 70 Green Building projects in Türkiye and various countries, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Malta, Italy, South Korea, and Egypt.