Overview

The Sahel Buildings Rating System Course is a comprehensive, self-paced learning program designed to build a clear and practical understanding of inclusive and accessible building development in Abu Dhabi.

The course presents the Sahel Buildings Rating System as the official system guiding the planning, design, assessment, and operation of buildings that respond to the needs of all users. Through nine structured modules, participants progress from foundational concepts and regulatory context to technical requirements, rating criteria, documentation processes, and applied implementation across the building lifecycle.

Participants will explore how Sahel requirements translate laws, policies, and strategic objectives into measurable criteria that support accessibility, safety, comfort, and usability in buildings. The course emphasizes accessibility as a continuous commitment across planning, design, construction, operation, and renewal, while clarifying the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, including asset owners, developers, consultants, Sahel Qualified Professionals (SQPs), assessors, and certifying bodies.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to interpret requirements accurately, prepare compliant submissions, and contribute effectively to the delivery of inclusive, functional, and high-quality buildings aligned with Abu Dhabi’s vision for the built environment.

Course Deliverables

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Explain the purpose and strategic role of the Sahel Buildings Rating System in delivering inclusive, accessible, and people-centered buildings in Abu Dhabi.

Understand the legal, regulatory, and policy foundations of Sahel as applied to building development.

Describe the structure of the Sahel Buildings Rating System, including rating levels, categories, and building-scale requirements.

Identify and apply mandatory building requirements as the minimum threshold for Sahel certification.

Integrate accessibility, safety, comfort, and usability principles into building planning and design decisions.

Apply coordinated strategies to achieve multiple Sahel requirements efficiently across building design and delivery stages.

Prepare structured, compliant documentation and evidence in line with Sahel submission and quality standards.

Explain the Sahel buildings certification lifecycle, from registration and assessment through final certification and renewal.

Apply Sahel requirements to real building scenarios, evaluating challenges and proposing practical, inclusive solutions.

Course Content

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Module 01: Strategic Foundations of Sahel

This Module provides a comprehensive strategic introduction to the Sahel Rating System, outlining its background, purpose, and foundational principles within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It explains the alignment between Sahel, Abu Dhabi Vision, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as its legal foundation under Federal Law No. (29) of 2006 concerning the rights of People of Determination.

The Module demonstrates how the Sahel Rating System translates legal obligations and strategic objectives into clear, measurable requirements through rating levels, credits, and scorecards. It highlights the critical role of accessibility in enhancing safety, inclusivity, sustainability, and economic value across buildings, communities, and public spaces.

Module 02: Sahel System and Universal Design Principles

This Module explores the origin and development of the Sahel Rating System as Abu Dhabi’s dedicated system for accessibility and inclusion across buildings, communities, and the Public Realm. It explains the guiding principles that shape Sahel, with a focus on Universal Design and the "People First" philosophy.

The Module illustrates how Universal Design principles are embedded within Sahel requirements to ensure usability, dignity, and independence for all users. It also highlights the value of Sahel for key stakeholders, demonstrating how the system supports inclusive decision-making, enhances project quality, and aligns global best practices with Abu Dhabi’s local context.

Module 03: Rating Levels, Credit Types, and Certification Process

This Module explains how the Sahel Rating System measures and verifies accessibility through a structured rating and certification approach. It introduces the four rating levels - Accessible, Adaptable, Inclusive, and Exemplar- and clarifies the distinction between mandatory and enhanced credits.

The Module also outlines how scorecards and credit weighting determine overall project ratings, and it describes the full certification lifecycle, including registration, pre-certification, final certification, and renewal. Through this Module, participants gain a clear understanding of how accessibility performance is assessed, documented, and maintained over time.

Module 04: Stakeholder Roles and Collaboration

This Module focuses on the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involved in delivering and maintaining accessibility under the Sahel Rating System. It explains the role of the Sahel Qualified Professional (SQP) as the central coordinator, along with the responsibilities of asset owners, developers, consultants, assessors, and certifying bodies.

The Module highlights the importance of structured collaboration, clear documentation, and coordinated workflows throughout the project lifecycle. It demonstrates how effective stakeholder engagement and accountability ensure consistent implementation of accessibility requirements and long-term compliance.

Module 05: Building Rating Categories and Structure

This Module provides a comprehensive overview of the eleven rating categories within the Sahel Building Rating System and explains how they collectively shape inclusive, accessible, and user-centered buildings. It guides participants through each category, from early integrated design and arrival experience to circulation, comfort, communication, safety, and long-term maintenance.

The Module demonstrates how these categories are interconnected across the building lifecycle, translating accessibility requirements into practical design, construction, and operational decisions. By the end of the Module, participants gain a clear understanding of how to apply the categories coherently to support compliance, enhance user experience, and deliver buildings aligned with Abu Dhabi’s vision for inclusive built environments.

Module 06: Mandatory Requirements and Evidence Standards

This Module provides a detailed explanation of the mandatory building requirements under the Sahel Building Rating System and the evidence standards required to demonstrate compliance. It establishes mandatory credits as the minimum, non-negotiable threshold that every building must achieve in order to qualify for Sahel certification.

The Module guides participants through the full list of mandatory building credits, acceptable evidence submission formats, and minimum compliance thresholds across all stages of development. It also highlights common compliance challenges, practical prevention strategies, and the use of a structured self-audit checklist to ensure submissions are complete, accurate, and review-ready. By completing this Module, participants gain the knowledge needed to prepare clear, consistent, and compliant building submissions.

Module 07: Integration Strategies and Design Best Practices

This Module focuses on practical strategies that support the integration of multiple Sahel building requirements into coordinated design solutions. It demonstrates how addressing accessibility holistically-rather than credit by credit-improves efficiency, reduces design conflicts, and strengthens overall project outcomes.

Through real Abu Dhabi building case studies, the Module illustrates how integrated approaches can be applied to new developments and retrofit projects. It also guides participants step by step on how to use the Sahel scorecard from early design through construction and final submission, enabling smoother coordination, clearer documentation, and more predictable certification results.

Module 08: Certification Lifecycle for Buildings

This Module provides a clear, step-by-step explanation of the full certification lifecycle for buildings under the Sahel Building Rating System. It guides participants through the journey from project registration and applicability checks, to design-stage pre-certification, assessor review, construction verification, final certification, and renewal.

The Module explains the purpose of each stage, the documentation required, and the responsibilities of key stakeholders, including project owners, design teams, Sahel Qualified Professionals (SQPs), contractors, and assessors. It emphasizes certification as a continuous process that ensures accessibility is not only achieved at completion but maintained throughout building operation and renewal cycles.

Module 9: Application of Sahel Building Rating System

This Module brings together all previous learning and applies it to realistic building scenarios commonly encountered in Abu Dhabi. Through structured simulations, participants practice evaluating both new-build and retrofit projects, identifying compliance gaps, and developing targeted improvement actions aligned with Sahel requirements.

The Module guides learners through two detailed case simulations, followed by a focused feedback analysis and improvement planning exercise. By working through assessor comments, scorecards, and documentation requirements, participants gain hands-on experience in preparing buildings for certification and strengthening their readiness for successful Sahel outcomes.