Sustainability Innovation Forum and Awards 2026 Brings Industry Leaders Together in Dubai

The Sustainability Innovation Forum and Awards 2026 brought together leaders from construction, energy, finance, hospitality, design and sustainability at Sofitel The Palm, Dubai, on September 1, 2026. Across a day of industry discussions followed by an evening awards ceremony, the event explored the ideas, people and solutions shaping a more sustainable future across the region.

The event was supported by Gold Sponsors Numai Real Estate and Herman Miller, and Category Sponsor Hansgrohe Group.

Sustainability Innovation Forum 2026

The Sustainability Innovation Forum 2026 convened construction pioneers, entrepreneurs, hospitality leaders and sustainability professionals for discussions centered on turning sustainability ambitions into practical action.

Across three panels, speakers explored some of the challenges increasingly influencing sustainable development: the growing relationship between energy infrastructure and construction, the role of people and organizational culture in delivering sustainability strategies, and the evolution of sustainable design within the hospitality sector.

Through real-world perspectives and cross-industry conversations, the forum examined how businesses can embed sustainability across projects, operations and decision-making while responding to changing economic, environmental and societal demands.

Panel 1: Power Before Concrete: Why Energy Now Sets the Pace of Construction

The opening panel examined how access to power is becoming an increasingly important factor in determining the pace of construction and development across the Gulf. As electricity demand grows, particularly alongside the expansion of AI and data centers, the discussion looked at how grid connection timelines, substations, transformers and transmission infrastructure can influence when projects become operational.

The speakers also explored the growing need to consider energy access from the earliest stages of land acquisition and masterplanning, as well as the importance of aligning power infrastructure with industrial zones, data centers and mixed-use developments.

Speakers: Vineet Kumar Sharma, Head of Sustainability & ESG, Arabian Gulf Steel Industries LLC; Dr. Muhammad Tayab, Sustainability Director, NMDC Group; Laurent Longuet, Chief Operations Officer, Positive Zero; Yousef Alaaaldeen, Energy Manager, ENGIE Solutions; and Vipulkumar Shantilal Mehta, Cement Operations Director, Cemex UAE.

Moderator: Kasun Illankoon, Editor – Special Projects, BNC Media Group.

Panel 2: Can Businesses Achieve Sustainability Goals Without Investing In People?

Moving the conversation from infrastructure to human capital, the second panel examined a question that is becoming increasingly relevant as sustainability strategies mature: can organizations meet their ambitions without simultaneously investing in their people?

The discussion explored the relationship between sustainability, talent and business growth, including the skills organizations need to turn sustainability strategies into measurable outcomes. Speakers considered how leaders can identify and address sustainability skills gaps, embed sustainability into workplace culture and everyday decision-making, and prepare their workforces for changing business requirements.

The conversation also looked at the relationship in reverse: how strong sustainability strategies can help organizations attract and retain talent, strengthen culture, encourage innovation and build long-term competitive advantage.

Speakers: Dr. Ioannis Spanos, Vice President – Sustainability, Expo City Dubai; Vijay Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of ESG, Emirates NBD; and Evgeny Garanin, Associate Director of Sustainability, DMCC.

Moderator: Aalia Mehreen Ahmed, Senior Features Editor, Entrepreneur Middle East.

Panel 3: Built for Guests, Designed for Good

The final panel turned to hospitality, examining how hotels and hospitality developments can deliver memorable guest experiences while reducing their environmental impact and preparing their properties for the future.

Speakers explored what purposeful, sustainable design means for today’s hospitality sector, including how luxury, functionality and environmental responsibility can coexist without compromising guest expectations or operational performance. The conversation also covered sustainable approaches to renovations, the shared responsibility of architects, interior designers and hotel operators, and the role of technology and adaptable spaces in creating properties that remain relevant over the long term.

Speakers: Mariska Stoffel, Director of Design & Development, R.Evolution; Rachid Bakas, General Manager, Anantara Retreat Santorini Abu Dhabi; Sejal Patel, Senior Design Director, Kristina Zanic Consultants; Henrique Dias, Principal & Middle East Hospitality & Mixed-Use Director, DLR Group; and Maikel Cooke, Commercial Manager, JM Foods LLC.

Moderator: Dr. Naim Maadad, CEO and Founder, Gates Hospitality.

Sustainability Innovation Awards 2026

Later that night, the focus shifted from discussion to recognition with the Sustainability Innovation Awards 2026, also held at Sofitel The Palm, Dubai.

Organized by BNC Media Group, the awards recognized 20 winners across sustainability, construction, hospitality, technology, manufacturing, energy and leadership. The evening highlighted organizations, projects, solutions and individuals contributing to more sustainable practices and innovation across the region.

The event was supported by Gold Sponsors Numai Real Estate and Herman Miller, alongside Category Sponsor Hansgrohe Group.

The Sustainability Innovation Awards 2026 winners were:

Sustainable Hotel Group of the Year: Radisson Hotel Group

Sustainable Future Project of the Year: Al Ain Oasis Preservation Project by Al Ain City Municipality

Corporate Excellence Award: NMDC Group

Sustainable Manufacturing Excellence Award: Arab Basalt Fiber Company

Sustainable Start-Up of the Year: SureFlow

Sustainable Commercial Project of the Year: Across H by Huna by A.R.M. Holding

Sustainable Fit-Out Firm of the Year: Summertown Interiors

Sustainable Contractor of the Year: Douglas OHI

Sustainable Initiative of the Year: ERTQAA (ارتقاء) Initiative by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates

EV Charging Station Provider of the Year: Emarat EV Charging Stations Company P.J.S.C. (UAEV)c

Sustainable Water Solution of the Year: Closed-loop bottling system by Sprudel

Excellence in Workforce Solutions Award: TalentOne

Sustainable Hotel of the Year: Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach

Sustainable Bathroom Brand of the Year: Hansgrohe Group

Sustainable Innovation of the Year: Palm Strand Board (PSB®) by Desertboard

Sustainable Technology of the Year: Autonomous District Cooling Operations Platform by Tabreed

Sustainable Homegrown Brand of the Year: Canama

Entrepreneur of the Year: Mohammed Bader, Division International Engineering Consultants

Energy Transition Leader of the Year – Emerging Markets: Ali Alshimmari, Global South Utilities (GSU)

Sustainability Innovation Leader of the Year Award: Dr. Abdulaziz Aljodai, Saudi Research Development and Innovation Authority

Together, the Sustainability Innovation Forum and Awards 2026 reflected two sides of the same conversation: examining the challenges and opportunities shaping sustainable transformation during the day, before recognizing the organizations, projects and individuals putting those ideas into practice across the region.