Dewan Architects & Engineers, one of the region's leading architectural and engineering consultancy firms, is pleased to announce that it joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) initiative in November.

With over 8000 corporate participants and other stakeholders from over 135 countries, Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. 

It is the largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative in the world and offers a practical framework for the development, implementation, and disclosure of sustainability policies and practices.

On becoming a signatory, Mohamed Al Assam, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Dewan, said: "By signing the Global Compact, Dewan recognizes and endorses the business value of operating in an ethical, environmental, and socially responsible manner and, as a signatory, we will continue to enhance our contribution towards building a sustainable society."

He added: "Our support for the United Nations Global Compact is a formal expression of our commitment to conduct our business with the utmost respect for universal principles around human rights, workplace standards, responsible environmental practices, and anti-corruption."

The company has also participated in its first engagement since joining the UNGC by attending the general meeting of the Iraq UNGC Network, which took place in Baghdad, Iraq on 17 December. 

During the meeting, which was attended by Mohamed Al Assam, a number of crucial issues were discussed, including the contribution of the Iraq Network to 'Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum', a back-to-back business event of the global UN Conference on Sustainable Development.

The meeting in Iraq followed on a new UN resolution that is putting the emphasis on strengthening the role of the GC local networks, which was adopted in recognition of local networks' importance in the evolving relationship between the UN and the private sector.

Dewan Architects & Engineers is a regional architectural and engineering design firm with offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, and the Philippines, and with over 26 years of industry successes across GCCcountries, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. 

The firm was ranked 4th for practices earning the most fee income from the Middle East - one spot higher than last year - and 64th globally on the World Architecture 100 list, according to prestigious industry publication Building Design Magazine earlier this year. 

The magazine annually publishes the 'World Architecture Top 100' - a unique, definitive listing of the world's largest architecture practices.