Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the UAE's largest Islamic bank by assets, has launched its Unlocking Sustainable Finance series, a sector-focused initiative aimed at helping key industries accelerate their transition toward a more sustainable and climate-resilient economy.
The inaugural forum, titled "Transitioning Real Estate," brought together more than 80 senior stakeholders, including policymakers, regulators, developers, contractors, architects, engineers, sustainability specialists, and supply chain leaders to explore how sustainable finance can support the evolution of the UAE's real estate sector.
The event was inaugurated by Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group Chief Executive Officer of DIB, who highlighted the growing importance of aligning financial solutions with measurable environmental outcomes.
"Real estate remains one of the most influential sectors in shaping economic growth and urban development. As the shift toward a lower-carbon economy accelerates, sustainable finance must evolve from being a niche offering into a strategic discipline that helps businesses execute credible transition plans and deliver measurable impact," Dr. Chilwan said during his keynote address.
During the forum, DIB announced a series of sustainability-focused partnerships designed to translate industry discussions into practical action.
Among the key announcements was the formalization of a LEED pre-certified project financing facility with Azizi Developments, supporting the construction of environmentally responsible real estate projects that comply with internationally recognized green building standards.
The bank also signed a Green Concierge Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Imtiaz Developments, establishing a framework that will assist developers throughout their sustainability journey by providing ESG advisory, transition planning, financing support, ecosystem partnerships, reporting, and assurance services.
These agreements reinforce DIB's commitment to supporting commercially viable sustainability initiatives while encouraging greater adoption of green building practices across the UAE's property market.
The launch also aligns with DIB's broader ESG strategy. The bank aims to increase sustainable assets to 15% of its total financing and investment portfolio by 2030, with nearly half of that target already achieved.
By the end of 2025, DIB had deployed approximately Dh20 billion in sustainable and sustainability-linked financing, invested around Dh9 billion in ESG sukuk, and facilitated nearly Dh30 billion in sustainable debt capital market transactions.
According to the bank, these investments have contributed to tangible environmental outcomes, including avoiding more than 155,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions, supporting over 13,000 electric vehicles, generating nearly 96,000 MWh of energy savings, and financing more than 1,500 affordable and social housing units.
A major highlight of the event was the introduction of Green Concierge, DIB's integrated client support platform designed to help organizations develop ESG roadmaps, access Sharia-compliant sustainable financing, connect with implementation partners, and strengthen sustainability reporting and impact measurement.
Industry experts from the Department of Energy, Knight Frank, and Arada also participated in panel discussions examining policy frameworks, retrofit financing, circular supply chains, building performance, and the commercial opportunities associated with sustainable real estate development.
The forum concluded with the launch of an industry collaboration pact, under which participants committed to continued engagement through specialized roundtable discussions focused on developing practical, market-driven solutions for sustainable finance.
Building on the success of its first event, DIB confirmed that the Unlocking Sustainable Finance series will expand into additional sectors facing complex climate transition challenges, reinforcing the bank's long-term commitment to sustainable economic development across the UAE.
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