Emirates NBD Group, one of the leading banking institutions in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has become the first bank in MENA to join the WELL at scale programme by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). This pioneering commitment underscores the bank’s dedication to promoting employee health, workplace well-being, and environmental performance across its operations.
The WELL at scale programme is a globally recognised framework that empowers organisations to track, certify, and scale strategies to improve human health and organisational performance. With this initiative, Emirates NBD aligns its office environments with IWBI’s science-backed benchmarks, aiming to create healthier, more productive spaces for its employees.
Commitment to People and Purpose
Eman Abdulrazzaq, Group Chief Operating Officer at Emirates NBD, said:
“We are delighted to partner with the International WELL Building Institute, committing to WELL at scale. As a socially responsible bank, Emirates NBD continues its internal sustainability and wellness journey by strengthening our business practices and ensuring our employees work in environments that prioritise their health, comfort and productivity.”
She added:
“Emirates NBD has been playing a prominent role in the UAE’s sustainability agenda, and we believe change begins from within the Group. Our people power our potential and progress — they are the heart of everything we have achieved and can aspire to achieve, and their well-being is a blueprint for our success.”
Tekha Selim, Executive Vice President and Head of MENA at IWBI, commented:
“Partnering with Emirates NBD marks a powerful step forward for the region. By adopting WELL at scale, they are putting health, wellbeing, and human experience at the centre of how their spaces support staff, clients and key stakeholders.
As the first bank in the MENA region to take this step, Emirates NBD is setting a new benchmark for the financial sector and showing what it means to lead with purpose.”
Aligning with Global Sustainability Standards
This move reinforces Emirates NBD’s leadership in sustainability and workplace innovation. In April 2025, the Group achieved top regional recognition for LEED Platinum certifications under the LEED for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) category, becoming the leading organisation across commercial and retail sectors in the Middle East.
Additionally, in 2024, the bank signed the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, further aligning its business practices with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Expansion of WELL Certification to KSA
As part of its expansion into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emirates NBD plans to extend the WELL at scale certification across its Saudi branches. This aligns with both the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the broader objectives of Vision 2030, reinforcing the Group’s regional strategy for health, sustainability, and innovation.
