Photo Credit : WAM
The Reference And Surveillance Intelligence Department (RASID), part of the Central Testing Laboratory at the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC) and operated in partnership with M42, has received the My Green Lab® Gold Certification, marking a major milestone in sustainable laboratory operations.
The certification recognises RASID for combining scientific excellence with sustainability, operational efficiency and advanced technology. RASID is now the first operational government laboratory specialising in wastewater monitoring and environmental surveillance to achieve the certification at Gold level.
The achievement reflects the laboratory’s commitment to adopting global best practices in sustainable operations, including efficient use of energy, water and other resources, improved waste management, sustainable procurement and measures aimed at reducing environmental impact and carbon emissions.
My Green Lab® is widely recognised as an international laboratory sustainability programme. Its certification framework evaluates environmental performance across several areas, including energy and water consumption, waste reduction, resource efficiency, procurement practices and the development of a strong sustainability culture among laboratory teams.
The certification comes as laboratories and research institutions worldwide face growing pressure to lower emissions and improve operational efficiency. RASID’s achievement also supports the UAE’s wider ambitions for climate neutrality, efficient resource use and more sustainable government operations.
Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Muaini, Executive Director of the Central Testing Laboratory at ADQCC, said the certification reflects the Council’s broader approach to building a government quality system that combines technical competence with sustainability, innovation and long-term impact.
He said advanced laboratories serve as strategic infrastructure that helps protect communities and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s competitiveness, adding that integrating sustainability into laboratory operations can create lasting value for government, society and the economy while supporting the UAE’s climate-neutrality objectives.
Dr. Fahed Al Marzooqi, Chief Executive Officer of the Integrated Health Solutions platform at M42, described the certification as an important milestone demonstrating how scientific excellence, technology and sustainability can work together.
He said the partnership between M42 and ADQCC is helping create a more advanced approach to monitoring and analysis by using automation, digital capabilities and artificial intelligence to turn data into actionable insights that support public health, preparedness and proactive risk management.
Ahmed Muadhad Al Muhairi, General Manager of Environmental Sciences at M42, said sustainability was built into RASID’s operating model from the beginning rather than being introduced as a separate initiative.
He noted that the laboratory combines advanced scientific analysis, automation and artificial intelligence, while the Gold certification provides an additional international benchmark for improving resource efficiency and operational performance.
According to Al Muhairi, the recognition also demonstrates RASID’s ability to combine high-quality scientific output, rapid response, efficient resource use and reduced environmental impact within one integrated laboratory model.
Samara Bin Salem, Director of RASID, said sustainability was incorporated into the department’s development and operating strategy alongside objectives linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
She said RASID uses advanced technologies, automation, digital transformation and artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency, optimise resource use, reduce waste and environmental impact, and strengthen the speed and accuracy of analysis and proactive risk monitoring.
Bin Salem added that achieving Gold certification represents an important step towards developing an integrated government laboratory model that brings together technical competence, sustainability and innovation while supporting Abu Dhabi’s preparedness for health and environmental challenges.
RASID operates as an advanced reference laboratory system combining sophisticated analytical capabilities, high levels of automation, digital platforms, data analytics and artificial intelligence to support monitoring, analysis and evidence-based decision-making.
The system supports the early detection of health and environmental risks through advanced laboratory testing, wastewater monitoring, health and environmental surveillance, and the analysis of data and indicators. These capabilities help relevant authorities assess emerging risks and take appropriate action.
RASID is also accredited to the international ISO/IEC 17025 standard by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), reflecting its commitment to internationally recognised requirements for technical competence and the quality and reliability of laboratory testing.
