With over 8,000 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 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, 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 UN 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 Dec. 17.

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.

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 GCC countries, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.