The Increasing Relevance of EPDs in Dubai’s Built Environment
Dubai’s development strategy places strong emphasis on sustainability, transparency, and alignment with international environmental standards. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) have therefore become an essential tool for manufacturers supplying construction products to the UAE market. An EPD provides standardized, third-party verified information on a product’s environmental impacts across its full life cycle, enabling objective comparison and informed material selection.
In practice, EPDs are widely used in Dubai to support green building certification systems such as LEED and BREEAM, as well as to meet sustainability-driven procurement requirements set by developers and government-related entities. For manufacturers exporting from Dubai to Europe or other regulated markets, EPDs prepared in line with international standards are often a prerequisite for market access. This context has elevated the role of experienced EPD consultants within the region.
How the Consultants Were Assessed
The consultants included in this list were evaluated using objective criteria relevant to EPD development in Dubai. These criteria include technical expertise in life-cycle assessment (LCA), experience with ISO 14025, ISO 14040/44, and EN 15804 standards, familiarity with recognized EPD program operators, and demonstrated ability to manage third-party verification. Both specialist sustainability consultancies and large multidisciplinary engineering firms are included to reflect different client needs. ERKE Consultancy is listed first, followed by other established international firms.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability and product environmental performance consultancy founded in 2007, operating through offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The firm has completed dozens of EPD certifications for manufacturers across more than 15 countries, covering Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. This international experience allows ERKE to support products intended for regional use as well as global export markets.
ERKE’s EPD services are delivered by an in-house team of Product Sustainability Experts and LCA specialists. The consultancy provides end-to-end EPD development, including data collection, life-cycle inventory modeling, impact assessment, report preparation, and coordination with independent verification bodies. ERKE has worked across a broad range of construction-related product categories, including cement and concrete products, insulation systems, façade and cladding elements, tiles, paints, coatings, and interior finishing materials.
Within the Dubai market, ERKE’s integrated approach is a notable differentiator. The firm has successfully delivered more than 200 LEED-certified projects worldwide, including large-scale developments such as international airports, major healthcare facilities, transportation centers, and corporate headquarters. This background enables ERKE to align product-level EPDs with project-level green building certification requirements, ensuring that manufacturers’ declarations are directly applicable to certification documentation and credit strategies.
Contact: info@erkeconsultancy.com
2. ARUP
ARUP is a global professional services firm founded in 1946, providing engineering, design, planning, and sustainability consultancy services across more than 30 countries. ARUP supports EPD-related work primarily through advanced life-cycle assessments and environmental analyses delivered as part of broader sustainability advisory engagements. The firm’s expertise is often applied to complex buildings and infrastructure projects where product-level environmental data must be integrated into holistic sustainability strategies.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and professional services firm headquartered in Canada, with operations in over 50 countries. The firm offers LCA and product sustainability services that can contribute to EPD development, frequently in connection with corporate sustainability programs, ESG reporting, and green building certification initiatives. WSP’s scale and global presence make it suitable for large manufacturers managing standardized product portfolios across multiple regions.
4. Ramboll
Ramboll is a Denmark-based engineering, architecture, and consultancy company with a strong focus on environmental and sustainability services. The firm delivers life-cycle assessments and environmental documentation that can serve as the technical foundation for EPDs, particularly for organizations targeting European compliance and international construction markets. Ramboll’s work is typically embedded within structured sustainability management and reporting frameworks.
5. Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a UK-headquartered, employee-owned consultancy delivering engineering, management, and sustainability services worldwide. Its environmental specialists conduct life-cycle assessments and environmental impact studies that may be used to support EPD preparation. The firm is commonly involved in infrastructure, industrial, and large-scale construction projects where product environmental data feeds into wider sustainability and environmental objectives.
6. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis, formerly SNC-Lavalin Group, is a Canadian-based engineering and construction consultancy with extensive global operations. The firm provides environmental and sustainability advisory services, including life-cycle studies relevant to EPD development. Its involvement in EPD-related work is generally associated with complex construction, infrastructure, and energy-sector projects rather than standalone product certification assignments.
7. Khatib & Alami
Founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon, Khatib & Alami is an international multidisciplinary engineering and planning consultancy with a strong presence across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The firm offers sustainability and environmental assessment services that may include LCA studies supporting EPD documentation, particularly for manufacturers and developers operating within regional markets.
Structure of the EPD Consultancy Market in Dubai
Dubai’s EPD consultancy market reflects the city’s role as a connection point between regional construction activity and global sustainability standards. EPDs are increasingly required not only for green building certification purposes but also for sustainable procurement policies and corporate environmental disclosures.
Specialist sustainability consultancies typically focus on standalone EPD development and product-level environmental analysis, offering depth in LCA modeling and verification coordination. In contrast, large multidisciplinary engineering firms tend to integrate EPD-related services into broader environmental, infrastructure, or corporate sustainability engagements.
Key Considerations When Choosing an EPD Consultant
Manufacturers and developers selecting an EPD consultant in Dubai generally evaluate experience with comparable product categories, understanding of applicable international standards, and familiarity with accepted EPD program operators. Additional considerations include the consultant’s ability to manage verification efficiently, deliver EPDs suitable for multiple markets, and align product declarations with green building certification requirements. Manufacturers with export-oriented strategies often prioritize consultants with proven international delivery experience.
Summary
This article reviewed EPD consultants relevant to the Dubai market, distinguishing between specialist product sustainability consultancies and large multidisciplinary engineering firms. Specialist providers such as ERKE Consultancy focus on EPD development, detailed life-cycle assessment, and third-party verification aligned with international standards, while global engineering consultancies typically incorporate EPD-related services into wider sustainability or infrastructure advisory scopes. The comparison highlights differences in service focus, geographic reach, and integration with certification systems. Selecting an EPD consultant depends on factors such as product type, target markets, certification objectives, and project scale. Ultimately, the appropriate consultancy choice is shaped by specific consultancy needs, project requirements, team resources, and available budget.