Emirates NBD — Burj Khalifa Branch

The Burj Khalifa is, by any measure, the most-photographed building in the Gulf — at 828 metres, the world's tallest, and the address that anchors Downtown Dubai. Inside it, Emirates NBD operates a branch that ISG helped certify to LEED ID+C Platinum — the highest tier the rating system offers for interior fit-outs.

What we delivered

For the Burj Khalifa branch, ISG led the LEED ID+C — Platinum-level submission and the technical work that sits behind it: performance energy modelling, daylighting simulation, acoustic consultancy, sustainable design consultancy, green building regulations and specifications, and independent commissioning. The brief was straightforward in description and demanding in execution — ensure sustainable site selection, then drive energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and overall environmental performance to a Platinum threshold.

Platinum on a fit-out isn't a default outcome. ID+C requires the tenant to demonstrate measurable gains over a baseline space without controlling the base building's structure, façade, or central plant. The team has to find the credits inside the leasable envelope.

Why a fit-out inside the Burj Khalifa is harder than a standalone branch

A LEED ID+C project inherits its base-building constraints. For a tower like the Burj Khalifa, that means working with the central chilled-water system, the existing perimeter glazing performance, and the building's mechanical risers — none of which the tenant can change. Credits then have to come from inside the leasehold: efficient lighting, low-water fixtures, low-VOC materials, daylight-responsive controls, and a tenant-side commissioning effort that proves the systems are actually performing.

Indoor environmental quality at this height also matters more than tenants typically expect. The thermal comfort envelope, ventilation effectiveness, and acoustic isolation in a high-rise with permanent occupants all need to be modelled and verified — not assumed.

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