News DeskDubai: In a major milestone for sustainable infrastructure in the UAE, VFS Global’s Visa Application Centre in Dubai’s Wafi City has been awarded the LEED v4 Interior Design & Construction (ID+C) Gold Certification, one of the most respected global benchmarks for environmentally responsible building practices.
The recognition comes just weeks after the centre — which opened in April 2025 as the world’s largest of its kind — began operations, underscoring Dubai’s growing leadership in green development.
“Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do,” said Monaz Billimoria, Regional Head – UAE at VFS Global. “Achieving LEED Gold for our Dubai centre is especially meaningful because this is our global headquarters. It reflects our commitment not just to operational excellence, but to creating spaces that are efficient and environmentally responsible. We hope this sets a new benchmark for sustainable operations across our global footprint.”
Billimoria added that the certification motivates the team to continue pushing the frontier in sustainable business practices.
The accolade was welcomed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and GBCI MENA, which praised VFS Global for embracing sustainability in the built environment. According to Deepthy K B, Senior Director, GBCI MENA, the project is a standout example for the MENA region and contributes to the UAE’s position among the top 10 countries outside the U.S. for LEED‑certified projects in 2025 — a year that also marks the 25th anniversary of the LEED rating system.
Spanning 150,000 square feet, the Wafi City facility has drastically expanded its customer service capacity. It also marks VFS Global’s first fully digital visa centre, with digital tokens and wayfinding systems in place — a testament to the centre’s focus on efficiency, user experience and reduced paper usage.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) remains the world’s most widely adopted green building rating system, rewarding projects that reduce environmental impact through energy efficiency, resource conservation and other sustainable design strategies.
