GRESB Readiness in MENA: Start With the Operating Model

Climate is the first and only GRESB partner in MENA. That position gives the firm a clear view of a recurring challenge across the region: many property organizations have sustainability activity, but the supporting data, ownership, and evidence are not yet organized as a portfolio management system.

Begin with the reporting perimeter. Ownership structures, joint ventures, management control, development assets, and operational assets can create avoidable confusion if teams collect data before agreeing what belongs in the portfolio. A short boundary memo should explain inclusion rules, exceptions, and the treatment of assets that changed status during the reporting year.

Next, distinguish a performance gap from an evidence gap. A building may have a strong energy program but no controlled record of the target, approval, coverage, or progress. Conversely, a complete policy library does not prove that asset performance is improving. Treating those situations differently keeps capital planning focused on operations while documentation work improves auditability.

Assign every indicator to a source, owner, reviewer, and approval date. Energy may come from utility bills, tenant data, or meters; certifications may sit with development teams; community programs may be managed centrally. A portfolio workbook without this ownership layer usually becomes a once-a-year collection exercise instead of management infrastructure.

Finally, use the benchmark as a decision framework rather than a points chase. The most useful roadmap connects each improvement to risk, operating cost, tenant value, investor relevance, and feasibility. The submission then becomes an output of better portfolio management, not the sole purpose of the program.