Beirut, January 16th 2014: Beirut City Centre, Lebanon's largest mall, is now also the first and only mall to be awarded LEED Gold Certificate (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

Beirut City Centre was keen to adopt an eco-friendly approach ever since its construction was launched, which strengthened its position as a leading player in defining environmental sustainability standards for future shopping centers in Lebanon and the region.

Among the most important sustainability factors that have been introduced in the construction and development of Beirut City Centre and which helped boost the points collected to attain the certificate: Building a mall that complies with the necessary qualifications to reduce pollution and negative effects of environmental changes; increasing the effectiveness of energy sources (such as electricity and water) through the reduction of their consumption; and encouraging recycling processes through easy and accessible areas where material to be recycled are collected and stored. The advantages also included ease of access to the centre through public and private transportation, in addition to building a design that allows the use of existing spaces in many ways and for different purposes.

10.4 billion square feet around the world are competing to acquire a LEED Certificate which constitutes a shift in construction and design methods ranging from residential units to integrated city projects. LEED Certificate is a comprehensive approach that deals with the full life cycle of a building, which helps preserve the environment and its benefits.

Waddah El Soleh, Majid Al Futtaim Properties' Country Head for the Levant region asserted that, "Receiving LEED Certificate recognizes Majid Al Futtaim's commitment to apply sustainability among other latest environmental standards in our destinations and respect the environment in which it exists and operates."

"Beirut City Centre is proud to be distinguished as the first and only mall in Lebanon to receive the LEED Gold Certificate; but more importantly to be one of three Majid Al Futtaim's malls to receive a Gold Certificate after Mirdif and Fujairah City Centres in the UAE.", stated Sleiman Mallat, Senior Mall Manager at Beirut City Centre. 

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About Majid Al Futtaim Properties
Majid Al Futtaim Properties is the leader in the ownership, development and management of ‎shopping malls, Hotels and complimentary mixed use communities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Majid Al Futtaim Properties has changed the face of shopping, leisure and entertainment across the region with 16 world-class malls operating in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt and Lebanon with a combined gross leasable area (GLA) of over 1 million sqm and more than 2,800 tenancies. In April 2013, Majid Al Futtaim Properties opened its first mall in the Levant region and other projects are currently under development in Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon. The Company's shopping malls continue to witness a steady increase in footfall with more than 160 million visitors in 2012. Majid Al Futtaim Properties has earned numerous accolades and awards from international organizations that have recognized its leadership and the quality of its properties. 

Majid Al Futtaim Properties has four flagship shopping malls; three in Dubai and two in Bahrain.  In Dubai, Deira City Centre boasts over 370 stores, leisure and entertainment facilities and over 50 restaurants and cafes; Mall of the Emirates houses over 560 international retail brands, including 80 luxury stores and the world-renowned Ski Dubai; and Mirdif City Centre offers visitors a mix of retail, leisure and entertainment options including 465 stores and iFLY Dubai, an indoor skydiving centre. Bahrain City Centre is the largest shopping, leisure and entertainment complex in Bahrain with more than 380 international brands including 60 dining options, and features Wahooo!, the region's first  region's first indoor- outdoor waterpark. 

Majid Al Futtaim Properties also owns nine hotels in the UAE and two in Bahrain, all of which are linked to the company's shopping malls.  The hotels' strategic proximity to the company's shopping malls promotes direct access to a wider international demographic and attracts more than 1.2 million guests annually. 

The Company is currently developing three master-planned communities.  The Wave, Muscat, a joint venture with the Government of Oman; will combine more than 4,000 beautiful properties, Almouj Golf, Almouj Marina, four premier hotels and new retail, leisure and dining opportunities at a seafront address in the new heart of Muscat.  The 250,000 sqm Waterfront City development in Beirut, Lebanon, a joint venture with Société Joseph Khoury & Fils Holding SAL, will feature over 1,500 residential homes, an office district, shopping mall, two international hotels, as well as multiple parks and a marina front promenade.  Al Zahia, developed by Sharjah Holding, a joint venture between the Government of Sharjah and Majid Al Futtaim Properties, will be a fully integrated community featuring a range of villas, apartments and commercial units.

For further information, please contact:
Impact Porter Novelli +961 1 337666
Haneen Joudiyeh
h.joudiyeh@ipnbeirut.com.lb

© Press Release 2014