ADNEC Group has been awarded the UAE’s Plan to Action: Year of Sustainability seal in recognition of its measurable achievements in environmental stewardship and sustainable innovation.
The Seal, granted through a national open call for UAE-based organizations, aims to promote actionable sustainability across four key areas: green transport, energy and water conservation, responsible consumption, and smart planting practices.
The recognition highlights the group’s tangible, data-backed contributions aligned with the Year of Sustainability 2024, and its commitment to national climate and development goals.
This year’s theme for Year of Sustainability seal emphasized execution over planning, reinforcing the UAE’s transition toward a sustainability-first economy. ADNEC Group’s submission was selected for its ambitious, system-wide initiatives.
ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi now operates fully on clean energy sourced through a Clean Energy Trade Agreement with EWEC, utilizing solar, wind, and nuclear power. This transition offsets 100 percent of ADNEC’s electricity-related emissions via International Renewable Energy Certificates (IRECs), accredited by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy.
The venue is now the first and largest event facility in the Middle East to achieve this status. The group also deployed AI-driven HVAC systems to enhance energy efficiency. These systems are projected to reduce annual electricity usage by 20 percent, or around 6 million kilowatt hours.
Waste minimization and circularity are central to ADNEC Group’s operations. More than 50 percent of all waste across its business clusters is recycled. Capital Catering, the group’s catering division, processes up to 1,200 kilograms of food waste daily into compost or soil enhancers. Used cooking oil is also converted into biodiesel.
ADNEC’s sustainability innovation extends to event infrastructure. TerraTile, a 100 percent recycled modular flooring developed in partnership with Terrax, transforms event waste into durable, reusable flooring. Once its life cycle ends, TerraTile is recycled to create new tiles.
Image Via: ADNEC Group | Cropped by GBN
Community impact formed a core pillar of the group’s application. Collaborations with Tadweer, Ne’ma, and the UAE Red Crescent supported food donations, public awareness, and ethical waste practices. ADNEC also expanded local procurement through its In-Country Value (ICV) program and strengthened ethical sourcing across its supply chain.
In 2024, ADNEC Group contributed $2.33 billion (AED 8.566 billion) in Gross Value Added to Abu Dhabi’s economy, up from $2.01 billion (AED 7.4 billion) in 2023. It supported more than 62,000 jobs, an increase from 51,000, and volunteer hours nearly doubled to 27,000. The award reflected the group’s commitment to sustainability across every aspect of our operations.
As part of that strategy, ADNEC group awarded a rooftop solar PV project at its Abu Dhabi venue, projected to generate over 8.5 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy annually, offsetting 6,000 metric tons of carbon emissions and covering 30 percent of electricity needs. Entities receiving the Seal are featured on the UAE’s national ‘Plan to Action’ map and are expected to lead ongoing efforts as the country advances toward its 2050 net-zero goal.
