Nakheel Community Management has been awarded the International WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management for 365 buildings by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and space types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment now and in the future. The achievement is the first such one in the UAE, and it follows the successful completion of third-party documentation reviewed by GBCI to confirm Nakheel met the feature specific intents and requirements.

The IWBI website explains that the certification is designed to empower owners and operators across large and small businesses to take the necessary steps in order to prioritise the health and safety of their staff, visitors and stakeholders. The WELL Health-Safety Rating can help guide users in preparing their spaces for re-entry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, instilling confidence in those who come through the building as well as the wider community.

A press release by Nakheel Community Management explained that they ensured strict adherence to health and safety policies across its residential, retail, hotel, and infrastructure developments, in order to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating. They added that each of the properties managed by Nakheel Community Management requires a contractor and project management consultant with an active HSE plan that meets both regulatory requirements as well as Nakheel’s strict health and safety requirements.

The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) and Nakheel Community Management celebrated this recent recognition as the first management company in the UAE to achieve WELL Health-Safety Rating for its entire portfolio, at an event attended by His Excellency Eng. Marwan bin Ghalita, Chief Executive Officer at RERA, Naaman Atallah, Chief Executive Officer at Nakheel and other members of the senior management teams.

His Excellency Eng. Marwan bin Ghalita, Chief Executive Officer at RERA, said: “Nakheel has played a vital role in promoting the real estate sector in Dubai. As the first community management company to be awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating, Nakheel Community Management is paving the way for other players to promote the highest standards of health and safety within their communities. This is a prestigious recognition of the efforts Nakheel Community Management has undertaken to ensure the best possible residential experience.”

Francis Giani, Chief Community Management Officer at Nakheel said, “We are honoured to be recognised by WELL, and this certification is a testament to our commitment to implementing the highest level of health and safety practices across all of our assets. Ensuring the utmost health, safety and overall happiness and prosperity of our communities is an integral part of our organisational culture and a core value that we pride ourselves on.”

Paul Scialla, Founder and CEO of Delos and Founder of the International WELL Building Institute, said, “Now more than ever, people are seeking living environments that are designed to foster better health and wellbeing. We commend the Nakheel Community Management team for their leadership in healthy buildings as the first management company under RERA to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating across Nakheel's 365 buildings.”

The WELL Health-Safety Rating provides a centralised source and governing body to validate efforts made by owners and operators. It leverages insights drawn from the IWBI Task Force on COVID-19, in addition to guidance on the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), global disease control and prevention centres and emergency management agencies, as well as recognised standard-making associations such as ASTM International and ASHRAE, and leading academic and research institutions, as well as core principles already established by IWBI’s WELL Building Standard, the premier framework for advancing health in buildings and spaces of all kinds.