ALEC Holdings releases 2024 ESG report, reflecting operational excellence and resilience
The company's sustainability achievements have been recognised externally. ALEC was awarded the Dubai Chamber of Commerce ESG Label and earned the 'Committed' sustainability badge from EcoVadis. The EcoVadis assessment covered 21 criteria across Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, further validating ALEC's robust ESG posture.
'We take pride in the results which showcase our maturing sustainability strategy that's fully integrated into our business model — not as a compliance exercise, but as a lever for resilience and regional growth. As ALEC continues to deliver complex, high-value projects across the region, our ESG commitments serve as a key enabler of operational excellence and stakeholder trust,' said Barry Lewis, CEO at ALEC Holdings. 'Our 2024 report reflects the tangible progress we've made in enhancing transparency, building workforce resilience, and embedding sustainability into every level of the business — from our project sites to the boardroom.'
ALEC's reputation for governance and compliance was further reinforced this year by the successful rollout of 'ALEC ALERT' — a secure whistleblowing platform enabling employees, subcontractors and vendors to report unethical conduct anonymously. With 73.5% of staff* in the UAE and KSA completing ethics training, ALEC is fostering a culture of accountability that supports robust decision-making. This ethical foundation directly contributes to transparent financial practices and sound business stewardship, offering confidence to partners and stakeholders alike.
ALEC completed a comprehensive double materiality assessment — a significant step in refining its ESG priorities. By engaging a wide array of internal and external stakeholders including employees, investors, clients, auditors, consultants, and community partners, the company ensured its ESG and decarbonisation approach reflects evolving risks, opportunities, and expectations.
This emphasis on governance is matched by ALEC's enduring investment in people. In 2024, more than 4,600 workers were trained at ALEC's dedicated trade skills facility, contributing to a healthy pipeline of internal promotions from labour to staff roles and measurable employee career advancement. With 68 nationalities represented and nearly 40% of managers* having completed gender diversity training, ALEC is building an inclusive workforce that reflects the increasingly global nature of clients and communities it serves.
'Talent is one of the most critical assets for a business like ours, and our ability to attract, retain and grow top-tier professionals directly impacts the quality of what we deliver,' added Lewis. 'By investing in both upskilling and wellbeing, we ensure ALEC remains an employer of choice — and a partner clients can rely on to bring visionary projects to life.'
On the environmental front, ALEC has taken impactful steps to decarbonise operations and strengthen climate resilience across its assets and operations. Most of the company's offices and factories in the UAE and KSA were refurbished in 2024, not just to improve energy and water efficiency, but also to enhance workplace experience. With solar-diesel hybrid generators and battery energy storage systems (BESS) deployed at four ALEC Construction project sites, ALEC is reducing its dependence on fossil fuels to power its sites while enhancing operational efficiency. These efforts align with national renewable energy strategies in both major markets for the company. Eight ALEC projects achieved LEED certification and five received a Pearl Estidama rating, with more under review.
Beyond operations, ALEC continues to play an active role in enriching communities. Over 1,100 employees participated in CSR activities last year, contributing more than 548 volunteering hours that positively impacted over 6,300 people. Through partnerships with Dubai Cares, SmartLife (NPO/NGO) and Emirates Red Crescent, ALEC directed hundreds of thousands of dirhams towards education, labour welfare, and humanitarian initiatives in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Nepal.
'As we target an aggressive phase of regional growth, we believe our ESG strategy not only protects value, but actively drives it,' said Lewis. 'Our goal is to set the benchmark for sustainable construction operations in the Middle East — delivering world-class projects while raising the bar for ethics, environmental responsibility and workforce empowerment.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
14 minutes ago
- The National
Egypt's National Printing plans to sell 10% stake to boost market share
National Printing, Egypt's leading printing and packaging platform, plans to sell a 10 per cent stake in the company in an initial public offering to enhance market share. The company is selling 21.17 million shares and plans to list on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), it said on Monday. The offering will include a private tranche, to which Omran Mohammed Al Omran, a Saudi Arabian entrepreneur and anchor investor in the IPO, is fully committed, and a public portion open for public subscription. The 10 per cent combined offering includes 10.58 million shares allocated to the cornerstone investor in the private tranche, and 10.58 million shares in the public tranche. Both will be offered at the same price per share, the company said. Prospective investors will be able to subscribe to the public tranche from July 27 to 31, subject to obtaining the relevant regulatory approval and prevailing market conditions. The selling shareholders are National Printing International Holding, which holds 8.25 per cent of the share capital; Grandview Investment Holdings, which holds 1.75 per cent; and other minority investors, the company announced. 'This IPO marks a pivotal milestone in our journey, creating a platform to accelerate our strategic ambitions and enhance our market presence,' said Sherif El Moallem, the company's managing director. Watch: Egypt's wheat harvest - a struggle between tradition and survival 'National Printing is ideally positioned to capture new opportunities across local and export markets. We look forward to entering this next chapter as a public company, where we can continue to invest in our capabilities and expand our reach.' Equity markets in the Gulf and the broader Middle East and North Africa region have experienced a flurry of IPOs, with various government-owned companies listing their shares. The Mena region had its strongest IPO year in 2024, with 54 issuers raising more than $12.6 billion, start-up data platform Magnitt said. Egypt's capital market welcomed only two listings from the United Bank and investment company Act Financial on the EGX in 2024, an EY report on IPOs in the Mena region said. A strong line-up of companies, such as Ahli United Bank and Tabarak Developments, are poised to join the market in 2025, 'signalling a vibrant period for Egyptian IPOs', the report said. Egypt plans to list stakes in at least 10 state-owned companies in 2025, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said last December. The prime minister's office said that some of the companies which will float its shares include Wataniya, Safi, Silo Food, and wind farm Gabal El Zeit. Shares of state-owned Alexandria Bank and Banque du Caire will also be included in the offerings, the PM's office added. However, 2023 was a dry year for the Egypt IPO market, with only a single company making its EGX debut, Taqa Arabia. The Egyptian economy is projected to grow by 4.1 per cent in 2025, despite an anticipated continued depreciation of the Egyptian pound, EY said. Founded by the El Moallem family, paper and packaging industry veterans, National Printing operates through four main subsidiaries, Shorouk, Uniboard, El Baddar for Packaging and Windsor, serving 15 sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, white goods and education, the statement said. The company, which is one of Egypt's largest producers of packaging and printing products, is part of Cairo-based investment firm Qalaa Holdings and has grown through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. It is based in Obour and Sadat Cities and had achieved an annual output exceeding 230,000 tonnes as of last year. Export sales contributed about 25 per cent of total revenue in 2024. The company recorded revenue of 7.14 billion Egyptian pounds ($1.5 million) in 2024 and 1.7 billion Egyptian pounds in the first quarter of 2025, the statement added. National Printing is obtaining the required approvals for the IPO, including of the public subscription notice and others from the Financial Regulatory Authority. Egyptian investment bank EFG Hermes is the global co-ordinator for the combined offering, while Zulficar and Partners is serving as local counsel to the issuer.
Emirates 24/7
14 minutes ago
- Emirates 24/7
UAE AI Award launches its second edition for year 2025
The UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain has announced the launch of the second edition of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Award, reinforcing the UAE's commitment to driving innovation and excellence in AI adoption across different sectors. The award aims to enhance competitiveness among government and private sector entities by recognising outstanding efforts in adopting artificial intelligence, further positioning the UAE as a global hub for innovation and smart governance. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, emphasised the UAE government's commitment to implementing the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to enhance the UAE's global digital leadership. Through cutting-edge solutions centered on artificial intelligence, recognised as a pivotal driver of innovation and the advancement of government services. He stated that the government aims to empower entities, foster active community engagement, and enhance government performance efficiency, ultimately contributing to the creation of a fully integrated digital ecosystem capable of keeping pace with global advancements in artificial intelligence. He further stated that the UAE government continues to advance its digital transformation efforts by developing advanced frameworks for the integration of artificial intelligence across vital sectors, adopting a unified national standard for AI applications, and designing unprecedented innovative solutions that enhance service efficiency, boost future readiness, and strengthen the UAE's position as a global hub for digital innovation. The UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain launched the award to encourage federal, local, and semi-government entities, as well as academic institutions, private sector organisations, and individuals, to adopt innovative AI solutions in shaping a better future built on digital transformation. The initiative aims to establish artificial intelligence as a key driver of growth, reshaping the nature of work, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for institutional empowerment and social integration, and fostering collaboration and creative competitiveness among various entities. The award encompasses five categories: Excellence in AI-powered Services, AI Solutions Developed in the UAE, Best Government-Private Partnership in AI, AI Leader, and AI Scientific Research. Submissions will be evaluated against key criteria, including the level of innovation, AI ethics compliance level, level of AI maturity, scalability and adaptability, as well as the potential impact. 'The Excellence in AI-powered Services' category focuses on solutions that enhance service quality using AI, enabling more accurate data-driven decision-making, improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and streamlining processes while 'The AI Solutions Developed in the UAE' category highlights solutions that reflect a reflect Emirati identity in both concept and implementation. 'The Best Government-Private Partnership in AI' category recognises successful collaborations between a government entity and a private company to develop AI-based solutions that accelerate innovation, enhance service quality, and deliver tangible outcomes that benefit the community and support government goals. 'The AI Leader' category honours government professionals who champion innovative AI solutions, enhance service delivery and decision-making, build team capabilities, and raise awareness to achieve measurable results that enhance government performance. 'The AI Scientific Research' category focuses on outstanding contributions to AI research that significantly advance theoretical understanding or practical applications of artificial intelligence. Entities and professionals across the government, private sector, individuals, and academic institutions interested in participating or learning more about the award categories can visit: Here The award's first edition received wide participation, with over 225 submissions and 12 outstanding projects competing in the final round. The winners, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Advanced Technology Research Council, Abu Dhabi Mobility, and DP World, were honored by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2024
Emirates 24/7
14 minutes ago
- Emirates 24/7
Abu Dhabi Airports welcomes 15.8 million passenger in H1
Abu Dhabi Airports announced that it welcomed over 15.8 million passengers between 1st January and 30th June 2025, marking a notable 13.1 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Zayed International Airport (AUH) played a pivotal role in the increase, with 15.5 million passengers walking through its gates until the end of June – up 13.2 percent year-on-year. This rise in passenger traffic was also supported by 133,533 total flights across the five airports in the first half of 2025, representing a 9.2 percent rise from the same period last year. AUH registered 93,858 aircraft movements, 11.4 percent over H1 2024 when it recorded 84,286 flights. Expanding its global footprint remains central to Abu Dhabi Airports' growth strategy. In the first half of the year, the network added 16 new destinations and welcomed new airline partners. Notable additions include China Eastern Airlines' four-times-weekly Shanghai service (with daily service commencing in September), Air Seychelles' six weekly flights, and Fly Cham's service to Damascus. IndiGo also strengthened its presence at AUH with new routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Vishakhapatnam, further cementing AUH as the airline's most connected hub in the UAE. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said, 'Consistently delivering positive growth for the past 17 quarters is testament to the dedication and collective effort of the entire Abu Dhabi Airports team. It reflects our operational agility and commitment to delivering an exceptional aviation experience and attracting international investors.' Abu Dhabi Airports also demonstrated impressive growth in cargo operations, highlighting the emirate's growing significance in global trade. In H1 2025, it handled a total of 344,795 tonnes of cargo year-to-date, bolstered by strategic partnerships and ongoing infrastructure enhancements. These include a major joint venture agreement signed with JD Property, the infrastructure arm of China's e-commerce giant The agreement will see the development of a state-of-the-art 70,000sqm advanced-tech facility that aims to meet the growing east-west demand for e-commerce and specialised cargo logistics throughout the GCC and broader MENA region. The first half of 2025 was also marked by several strategic milestones across Abu Dhabi Airports' network. The completion of rehabilitation works at Sir Bani Yas Airport reflects the commitment to strengthening the UAE's aviation infrastructure and supporting Al Dhafra's eco-tourism ambitions. Additionally, AUH was awarded the prestigious 3 Pearl Estidama rating for construction, and was also recognised as the 'Best Airport at Arrivals Globally' for the third consecutive year at the ACI ASQ Awards. At Al Bateen Executive Airport, Abu Dhabi Airports' collaboration with Bombardier progressed with the establishment of a dedicated service facility, advancing Abu Dhabi's maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities to position the emirate as a centre of excellence for aviation services. Additionally, a new MoU signed with TAQA Distribution will explore the integration of next-generation utility technologies across the airport portfolio, reinforcing Abu Dhabi Airports' long-term vision for innovation and sustainable development.
