Aldar Properties PJSC ('Aldar'), marking the start of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), reaffirms its commitment to continue driving its sustainability efforts in 2020 to ensure that Abu Dhabi remains the catalyst for building a sustainable future.

Commenting on the official inauguration of ADSW, Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Executive Officer, Aldar, said:

"Sustainability dominated many conversations in 2019 and is likely to continue making headlines in 2020 and beyond, particularly as businesses increasingly embrace Environmental, Social and Governance practices. On this journey, collaboration is key. That is why a global platform like Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, one of the world's largest and most influential sustainability gatherings which brings together leaders, policy makers, businessmen and experts under one roof, is so important. It is key to promoting and accelerating the world's sustainable development and shaping the future of our planet. Importantly, it is a testament to the UAE's role in tackling some of the most challenging issues the international community faces today."

"For us at Aldar, sustainability is about how we create long-term, sustainable growth and value for all our stakeholders - the community, our customers, our employees and our shareholders. We are committed to playing a leading role in ensuring a more sustainable business, nation and region. In 2019, we launched our Corporate Sustainability Strategy, rolled out multiple initiatives, and released our inaugural sustainability report. In 2020, we will continue to embed sustainable practices and policies across every department of our organisation and boost our efforts towards greater transparency and collaboration."

Aldar's first sustainability report was launched in 2019, with the purpose to improve transparency and describe to its stakeholders how the Company conducts and intends to conduct business. The report focuses on the Company's efforts to ensure that it has a positive impact on the economy, environment and in the communities where Aldar operates. The report represented Aldar's first structured review of its group wide sustainability efforts. It is an important step that will allow the company to build on and improve its strong and existing sustainability measures, practices and outcomes. The report sets a baseline for upcoming initiatives and articulates a sustainability framework that will act as a benchmark for all the company's activities moving forward in order to ensure that Aldar continues on its journey of becoming a leader in sustainability in Abu Dhabi. To download a copy of Aldar's 2018 sustainability report, please visit https://www.aldar.com/en/About-ALDAR.

Aldar has a proven track record of identifying ways to create a more sustainable business, through the empowerment of its people. In January 2018, Aldar launched its first Youth Council to empower the Company's younger employees. Additionally, in 2018 Aldar appointed the first woman to its Executive Management team, which was followed by the appointment of the first woman to Aldar's Board of Directors in the first quarter of 2019.

In April 2019, Aldar signed a strategic partnership agreement with Special Olympics UAE under which Aldar will support the Special Olympics in the long term in several aspects, reinforcing Aldar's commitment to fostering inclusion and tolerance in the UAE and helping to ensure the long term sustainability and success of the Special Olympics UAE team.

In July 2019, Aldar created its first Diversity & Inclusion Board. This new Board was set up with a mission to build a culture that embraces differences, celebrate uniqueness, and unleash the potential of diverse groups in order to support and empower a diverse and inclusive culture to achieve business excellence.

In October 2019, and in line with its sustainability agenda and its commitment to supporting future generations of UAE Nationals, Aldar announced its contribution of AED 36 million to Sandooq Al Watan – the UAE's National fund, taking its total contributions to AED 120 million.

In November 2019, Aldar signed a strategic partnership with ADNOC to launch its new In Country Values (ICV) programme, to anchor its new procurement sustainability strategy.  The latter also includes a worker welfare programme alongside a CSR and sustainability requirement for all suppliers within its prequalification tenders.

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