First batch of Sa'fat-certified engineers graduates in Dubai

20 students graduated as part of Dubai Municipality's Sa'fat, or Green Building Rating System, training programme.

The first batch of engineers certified under Dubai Municipality's (DM) green building rating system has graduated.

The 11 engineers, and nine engineering students, graduated after passing a training course and exam under DM's Green Building Rating System, known as Al Sa'fat.

Sa'fat is the first professional designation certified and granted by DM to all engineers in the building and construction fields, as well as students of engineering from all universities.

The Sa'fat system has been implemented for all buildings in the UAE's residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Four categories – Bronze, Silver, Golden, and Platinum – make up Sa'fat's ratings, which cover carbon reduction, energy saving, internal health environments, smart applications, innovation requirements, and a building's expanded life span.

Fida Al Hammadi, head of the research and building systems section within DM's Buildings Department, said engineers are introduced to the Sa'fat system through a presentation covering its stages, as well as the list of conditions and requirements of green buildings.

The Sa'fat programme also sheds light on the positive impacts of the system's application, such as energy conservation, reduced carbon footprint during construction and operation, and reduced waste.

Al Hammadi said the term 'Sa'fat Certified Engineer' could be added to an engineer's CV after they have completed the programme, and it would also help ensure an employee's efficiency in the green building sector.

"This includes two main categories, [the first of which is] professionals – the engineers working in the profession – and [secondly,] the young engineering students in the universities, who wish to develop their academic skills in the green building field," she explained.

"The initiative has targeted the capabilities of the young students at universities with a simple and uncomplicated training [model] that encourages them and gives them the opportunity and responsibility to be the makers of Dubai's sustainable future."

Dawood AbdulRahman Al Hajiri, director general of DM, oversaw the graduation ceremony, in the presence of the secretary general of Dubai Executive Council, Abdullah Al Basti.