The UAE Ministry of the Environment will soon launch a centre for clean production as a means to encourage businesses to embrace sustainability.

Disclosing this at an Enoc conference, Environment Minister Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad said compliance with regulations alone would not make a business sustainable.
“They should also ensure that there is a high level of awareness across the organisation on social and environmental responsibilities and contemporary techniques that help run the business sustainably,” Dr Rashid Ahmed said.
The Enoc conference, its fourth on regional environment, health and safety (EHS), was held at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai.
The conference is held annually bringing together local and international experts who share their knowledge and experiences in addressing critical EHS issues and formulating practical and sustainable solutions. This year, the conference focused on ‘Running our business sustainably.’
Dr Rashid Ahmed said the UAE had developed fast and the changes had impacted lifestyles. However, the country was also aware that growth needed to be balanced with the environment and hence it had made conservation an integral part of its development policies.
Senior government officials, environmentalists, academics and EHS professionals addressed the conference and outlined the environmental challenges for businesses in the region as well as the role of regulators in environmental compliance.
Saeed Abdullah Khoory, chief executive officer of Enoc, said that the event reaffirms the broad commitment of the company towards sustainability.
Waddah Ghanem, Enoc Group EHSQ compliance manager, delivered the keynote address at the conference, presenting an overview of the sustainable business initiatives of Enoc and the innovative approaches adopted by the company in working closely with the community.