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Aldar Properties (“Aldar”) is leading a number of initiatives alongside various measures across its development and asset management businesses that support the nationwide efforts to protect health and wellbeing and promote business continuity. The measures highlight Aldar’s commitment to its employees, business partners, residents, parents and the wider community.
These initiatives are in addition to Aldar’s AED 190 million programme aimed at supporting residential communities, schools, retail partners and home buyers.
Commenting on the company’s efforts, Talal Al Dhiyebi, CEO of Aldar, said: “The world continues to face a unique set of circumstances that call for sustained leadership, collaboration, solidarity and unity. The scale of what we are witnessing is unprecedented and transcends borders, so it is a time for us to all work together for humanity, to emerge stronger and more connected. Our Government’s response has been unmatched and inspiring, and we commend their relentless efforts to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the UAE and their support to those most in need across the world. As an industry leader, Aldar is committed to playing a strong supporting role in the national response to this pandemic.
“As a responsible real estate business, our priority is to preserve the health and wellbeing of our employees, customers, residents and the communities we serve. Our employees are our greatest asset and over the past few weeks, they have shown a tremendous amount of dedication and productivity, by leveraging the advanced technology and systems we have in place and ensuring we deliver on our promises seamlessly. We have also been communicating regularly with our various stakeholders to keep them informed of our efforts to ensure a safe environment and a robust, sustainable business. In the coming period, we will continue to adhere to the guidance from the UAE Government, health authorities and the World Health Organisation by staying home, staying safe and doing everything we can to minimise the impact on our people, our community and our economy.”
AT THE FOREFRONT OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Aldar was among the first private sector organisations in Abu Dhabi to implement a remote working policy. Given the company’s commitment to digital transformation, the appropriate systems were put in place in a timely manner, which facilitated a smooth transition to a new way of working.
Talent development continues to be a key priority for the business with employees undergoing regular online training sessions from home. Aldar employees also have access to an online wellbeing platform and have the possibility to sign up to live sessions with health authority professionals.
Aldar was also the first company in Abu Dhabi’s private sector to host its Annual General Meeting as a video conference meeting, after receiving the necessary approvals from Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (ESCA).
On the education front, Aldar Education has made an investment of AED 10 million toward technology and infrastructure to facilitate distance learning programmes and to cover for devices that were purchased and distributed to families who did not have the tools to deliver distance learning to their children. As schools across the UAE were gearing up for home learning, Aldar Education implemented an innovative e-learning programme, which had already been a year in the making, to facilitate distance education anywhere, anytime. The programme is being utilised across its network of 18 schools, which caters to over 20,000 students across the Emirate, to ensure continuity of classes until the end of the 2020 academic year.
Aldar Education is also supporting other schools in Abu Dhabi to further develop their distance learning programmes and shared a wealth of class content and resources with detailed lesson guides and assessments on a range of subjects. Furthermore, Aldar Education has provided Office 365 refresher training to over 1,000 teachers and has offered to extend the same level of support and training to teachers beyond its portfolio.
Across Aldar’s retail portfolio, a major focus has been on connecting residents to retailers through delivery and virtual personal shopper programmes using customised offering and free delivery. As an example, Yas Mall has launched a new ‘We Shop For You’ service for Abu Dhabi residents. This innovative solution offers a virtual shopping experience for all essential items available from Carrefour and pharmacies, and will widen to include the entire Yas Mall retail offer.
PRIORITISING HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING
Aldar was also among the first companies to lead on a range of precautionary measures in the workplace, in its developments and communities and across all its assets.
The robust measures that Aldar has implemented aim to instil the highest levels of safety and hygiene by installing thermal cameras, conducting individual temperature checks, providing adequate personal protective equipment and resources such as masks and surgical gloves and reducing the number of employees in line with the latest physical distancing directives. Hand sanitisers across all Aldar properties (retail, residential, corporate, hospitality) were installed early on and disinfection and sanitation activities across all assets and touchpoints continue to be conducted on a regular basis.
Aldar is also working closely with its contractors to ensure all staff accommodation has adequate isolation measures, is rigorously sanitised and regularly inspected, and has the appropriate cleaning and disinfection protocols in place.
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