Dubai-Edinburgh Sustainability Institute

About Us

The Dubai-Edinburgh Sustainability Institute started as a collaboration between the British University in Dubai and the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) at the University of Edinburgh, with the aim of establishing a sustainability center focused on innovation in environmental research. The concept evolved into the formation of networks of partnerships between affiliates of the University of Edinburgh (UoE) and affiliates of the British University in Dubai (BUiD), with the goal of contributing to the United Nations General Assembly’s Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, sustainability encompasses not only the environmental but also the socioeconomic and sociopolitical components. The Dubai-Edinburgh Sustainability Institute (DESI) was founded as a result of this collaboration. 

Our Vision

The vision is to establish an interdisciplinary sustainability centre in Dubai jointly run by UoE and BUiD. The centre will run on four operational themes: (1) Research, (2) Business Incubation, (3) Project Consultancy & (4) Executive Education. With an international outlook, these themes will be the foundations of a sustainability development institution that welcomes researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs from Dubai, the Middle East and the wide world.

Our Mission 

Our mission is to be a powerhouse for sustainable development, research, and innovation that prioritises economic and social welfare alongside the environment, and to equip individuals and partnerships with the tools required to lead the way in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Dubai, Middle East and beyond.