Sustainable development outcomes
Connect community policy, objectives and programmes with the sustainable development outcomes the community seeks to achieve.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES • ISO 37101
ISO 37101 Certification in UAE & Dubai
Independent assessment of a management system for sustainable development in communities against ISO 37101:2016, with a defined scope covering the community, territorial boundaries, locations, functions, programmes and services activities and organizational responsibilities.
ISO 37101:2016
Edition 1
Independent assessment
ISO 37101
Sustainable Development in Communities
COMMUNITY VALUE
Better decisions.
Better decisions.
Coordinated community development programmes.
A management system for aligning sustainable development decisions, programmes, projects and services, risk, information and performance with organizational objectives.
ISO 37101 • SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Sustainable development connected to community context, policy, resilience and performance.
ISO 37101:2016 provides a management-system framework for communities and designated organizations responsible for sustainable development outcomes.
WHAT IS ISO 37101?
ISO 37101 certification gives UAE communities and designated organizations a structured approach to sustainable development.
ISO 37101 is the certifiable management system for sustainable development in communities standard within the ISO 37100 family. The current published edition is ISO 37101:2016, Edition 1, published in July 2016 and last reviewed and confirmed in 2022.
The standard is applicable to any organization that relies on community context to achieve its objectives. It can support organizations managing infrastructure, facilities, equipment, transport fleets, utilities, public services, infrastructure and other community systems.
ISO 37101 status
Current published edition: ISO 37101:2016, Edition 1. ISO 37101:2016 remains current; ISO has also published Amendment 1:2024 for climate action changes.
ISO 37101 IN PRACTICE
Build sustainable development in communities around the community context, decisions and programmes, projects and services the organization actually controls.
Sustainable development management connects community policy and objectives with programmes, projects, services and intended outcomes. The management system provides a structured way to plan, operate, evaluate and improve those activities.
ISO 37101:2016 takes a holistic approach to sustainable development in communities, considering environmental, economic and social context, objectives, programmes, performance and improvement.
For organizations in Dubai and across the UAE, the certification scope should accurately reflect the community context, territorial boundaries, locations, functions and programmes, projects and services included in the management system.
The objective is to establish a management approach that supports coherent sustainable development decisions, resilient outcomes and continual improvement within the defined community scope.
Holistic community context
Consider environmental, economic and social factors together rather than treating sustainability topics as isolated activities.
Resilience and risk
Use community context, planning and evaluation to understand risks and opportunities that can affect sustainable development outcomes.
Policy and objectives
Translate sustainable development policy into objectives, programmes and decisions appropriate to the community context.
Information and knowledge
Maintain relevant community information and organizational knowledge to support planning, programmes, evaluation and review.
Performance evaluation
Evaluate community sustainability performance and use findings to improve the suitability and effectiveness of the management system.
ISO 37101 IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE
Build the management system around the community context, territorial boundaries and responsibilities actually managed.
A practical implementation approach starts with community context and scope, then connects policy, objectives, planning, programmes, projects, services, stakeholder considerations, performance evaluation and improvement.
Confirm the community scope
Identify the community, territorial boundaries, locations, functions and sustainable development activities covered by the intended certification scope.
Connect policy to objectives
Establish how the sustainable development policy, objectives and plans support intended community context.
Plan programmes, projects and services
Plan relevant strategies, programmes, projects, plans and services according to the community context and sustainable development objectives.
Manage community information
Maintain reliable information and knowledge needed for planning, programme delivery, performance evaluation and review.
Address resilience and climate considerations
Apply suitable information about sustainability risks, opportunities, climate considerations and performance when making community development decisions.
Review and improve
Use monitoring, internal reviews, management review, audit findings and performance information to improve the management system over time.
UAE BUSINESS CONTEXT
Keep the certification scope aligned with the community and responsibilities actually managed.
UAE communities and designated organizations may coordinate sustainable development programmes across multiple emirates, municipalities, facilities, projects or operating units. The certification scope should clearly identify the community boundaries, designated organization and relevant functions so the assessment reflects the management system in operation.
See the certification process
THE FOUNDATION OF ISO 37101
Core sustainable development in communities practices behind informed decisions and sustained community value.
ISO 37101:2016 connects sustainable development policy with community context, planning, programmes, decision-making, programmes, projects and services, information, performance evaluation and continual improvement.
Sustainable development policy
Connect the management system for sustainable development in communities with the objectives and priorities of the organization.
Community context
Define the community, territorial boundaries and responsibilities that fall within the management system scope.
Lifecycle planning
Plan relevant activities across the lifecycle so community development decisions support intended outcomes.
Resilience and risk
Consider sustainable development uncertainty and opportunities when planning and making decisions.
Information and knowledge
Use suitable community information and organizational knowledge to support effective sustainable development.
Performance evaluation
Monitor sustainable development in communities performance and use objective information to identify improvement opportunities.
Continual improvement
Use findings, reviews and performance information to improve the management system over time.
ISO 37101:2016 EDITION STATUS
Move from the current 2016 edition to the current 2016 management system for sustainable development in communities standard.
ISO 37101:2016 is Edition 1 and remains current. Organizations maintaining or seeking certification should use the current published edition as the basis for the applicable programme.
2016
Current published edition
ISO 37101:2016 was published in July 2016 as Edition 1 and was last reviewed and confirmed in 2022.
VALUE
Support community context
ISO 37101:2016 provides a holistic management-system approach to sustainable development in communities, including smartness, resilience and sustainable development outcomes.
PLANNING
Address climate and resilience
Amendment 1:2024 introduces climate action changes applicable to ISO 37101:2016; the published standard also addresses resilience and sustainable development outcomes.
INFORMATION
Evaluate community performance
ISO 37101 focuses on community context, policy, objectives, strategies, programmes, performance evaluation and continual improvement.
EDITION PRINCIPLE
Assess the management system for sustainable development in communities against the current published edition.
The certification scope, transition arrangements and audit programme should be confirmed with the certification body responsible for the organization’s conformity assessment.
ISO 37101:2016Edition 1 · Published July 2016
ISO 37101 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
Key areas to consider when establishing and assessing a management system for sustainable development in communities.
The management system should be appropriate to the community context, territorial boundaries, sustainable development policy, objectives and programmes within the defined scope.
OBJECTIVES
Sustainable development objectives
Translate community priorities into sustainable development objectives that can guide planning and decision-making.
PLANNING
Sustainable development planning
Plan strategies, programmes, resources and actions needed to achieve intended sustainable development outcomes.
RISK
Risk and opportunities
Evaluate sustainability risks and opportunities that may affect community objectives and sustainable development outcomes.
DECISIONS
Community policy and objectives
Use suitable criteria and information to support community development decisions and intended sustainable development outcomes.
DATA
Information and knowledge
Control and use community information and organizational knowledge needed for planning, programmes and review.
LIFECYCLE
Programme and service delivery
Manage relevant programmes, projects and services in a manner consistent with sustainable development objectives and plans.
PERFORMANCE
Performance evaluation
Monitor and evaluate the performance of the management system and relevant sustainable development activities.
ISO 37101 CERTIFICATION READINESS
Audit readiness is built from evidence across the management system for sustainable development in communities.
A certification assessment examines objective evidence showing how the management system for sustainable development in communities operates within its defined scope and how the organization evaluates and improves it.
Information identifying the community, territorial boundaries, organizational functions and activities covered by the management system.
Plans and actions connecting organizational objectives with sustainable development activities, resources and intended outcomes.
Evidence showing how community development decisions consider value, risk, opportunity, lifecycle information and organizational priorities.
Community information, records and organizational knowledge used to support planning, programmes, decisions and performance evaluation.
Evidence relating to relevant strategies, programmes, projects, plans and services supporting sustainable development outcomes.
Monitoring, reviews, audit findings, management review and improvement actions connected with sustainable development in communities performance.
INDUSTRIES WE CERTIFY
ISO certification across the industries we serve.
Communities and designated organizations use ISO 37101 to structure sustainable development policy, programme and project planning, information, performance evaluation and improvement around the community context.
Data Centres & Cloud Services
Support sustainable community infrastructure, digital services, resilience planning and public or private service programmes within the defined community context.
Explore IndustryManufacturing
Support economic development, resource efficiency, employment and environmental programmes within the defined community context.
Explore IndustryTransport & Logistics
Support sustainable mobility, transport planning, accessibility and related community services within defined responsibilities.
Explore IndustryFacilities Management
Support sustainable buildings, public facilities, service delivery, resource efficiency and community resilience across operating locations.
Explore IndustryConstruction & Real Estate
Address urban development, infrastructure, land use, community services and project programmes through sustainable development planning and performance evaluation.
Explore IndustryGovernment & Public Sector
Support public infrastructure, municipal services, community programmes, resilience and sustainability objectives through structured planning and evaluation.
Explore IndustryBanking & Financial Services
Support responsible facilities, community investment and relevant social or economic development programmes within the defined scope.
Explore IndustryHealthcare
Support accessible community health, social wellbeing, resilient services and sustainable community facilities within the defined scope.
Explore Industry
ISO 37101 CERTIFICATION SCOPE
Your ISO 37101 certificate should describe the management system for sustainable development in communities actually assessed.
Certification scope identifies the community, territorial boundaries, organizational functions and sustainable development activities covered by the management system and assessed during certification.
For organizations operating in Dubai or other UAE emirates, the scope should accurately reflect the community context and programmes, projects and services managed by the organization.
Community context
Identify the community, territorial boundaries and defined context that fall within the management system scope.
Programmes and services
Clarify relevant strategies, programmes, projects, plans and services supporting sustainable development outcomes.
Sites & functions
Define locations, departments, central functions and community responsibilities included in the assessment.
External provision
Consider outsourced services, contractors and externally provided activities that affect sustainable development in communities within the defined scope.
ISO 37101 CERTIFICATION PROCESS
From sustainable development in communities scope definition to certification and ongoing evaluation.
The exact programme depends on the organization and certification scope, but the process follows a structured sequence from application and assessment planning through certification and surveillance.
Define the certification scope
Provide the community context, territorial boundaries, locations, functions, programmes, projects and services, personnel and intended ISO 37101 scope.
Establish the management system for sustainable development in communities
Operate the system across planning, decision-making, programmes, projects and services, information, performance evaluation and improvement.
Readiness assessment
Review the defined scope, community context, system arrangements and available evidence before the certification audit.
Certification audit
Assess implementation and objective evidence against the applicable ISO 37101 criteria within the agreed scope.
Certification decision
Assessment results and applicable findings proceed through the certification decision process.
Surveillance and improvement
Maintain the management system for sustainable development in communities, evaluate performance, address findings and continue improving the system throughout the certification cycle.
BENEFITS OF ISO 37101 CERTIFICATION
Why communities and organizations in Dubai and the UAE pursue ISO 37101 certification.
ISO 37101 can help community-intensive organizations establish a consistent management approach connecting organizational objectives, community development decisions, programmes, projects and services and performance.
Clearer community development decisions
Use a structured management approach for decisions that affect sustainable development outcomes, resilience, smartness and community performance.
Programme visibility
Consider relevant strategies, programmes, projects, plans and services across the community context.
Resilience awareness
Bring sustainable development risks and opportunities into planning and decision-making within the management system.
Better community information
Establish useful community information and knowledge practices to support planning, programmes and review.
Performance evaluation
Use relevant measures and analysis to understand sustainable development in communities performance and identify improvement opportunities.
Independent certification evidence
Where certification is requested by customers, tenders or contracts, an independent certificate can demonstrate that the stated sustainable development in communities scope has been assessed.
AFTER ISO 37101 CERTIFICATION
ISO 37101 certification is maintained through active sustainable development in communities and continual evaluation.
Certification is not a one-time documentation exercise. The organization continues to operate, monitor and improve its management system for sustainable development in communities throughout the certification cycle.
Internal review
Evaluate whether sustainable development in communities activities and system arrangements are implemented and performing as intended.
Management review
Give leadership structured information about objectives, community performance, risks, opportunities, audit results and improvement needs.
Corrective action
Address nonconformities, investigate relevant causes and determine whether corrective actions are effective.
Continual improvement
Use community information, performance results, lessons learned and assessment findings to improve the management system over time.
ISO 37101 FAQ
Frequently asked questions about ISO 37101 certification in UAE.
Find concise answers about ISO 37101:2016, management system for sustainable development in communities, certification scope, programmes, projects and services, decision-making, assessment and ongoing certification.
Request an ISO 37101 QuoteWhat is ISO 37101 certification in the UAE?
ISO 37101 certification is an independent conformity assessment of a management system for sustainable development in communities against ISO 37101 within a defined scope. It considers how the designated organization manages sustainable development objectives, context, programmes, performance and improvement.
What is ISO 37101?
ISO 37101:2016 is a management system standard for sustainable development in communities, including cities. It uses a holistic approach to support consistency with a community’s sustainable development policy and intended outcomes.
Is ISO 37101:2016 still current?
Yes. ISO lists ISO 37101:2016 as the current published edition and says it was last reviewed and confirmed in 2022. ISO also lists Amendment 1:2024 for climate action changes.
Is ISO 37101 being revised?
Yes. ISO currently lists ISO/AWI 37101 as Edition 2 under development. The work item is intended to replace ISO 37101:2016, but the published 2016 edition remains the current published version.
Who can use ISO 37101?
ISO 37101 is applicable to communities of different sizes, structures and types, including urban or rural areas and local, regional or national levels within their respective responsibilities. A designated organization can establish the management framework for the community.
What does ISO 37101 mean by a community?
The standard is designed for communities such as cities and other defined territorial areas. The applicable community scope and territorial boundaries should be clearly identified for the management system.
What outcomes does ISO 37101 support?
ISO identifies intended outcomes including managing sustainability, fostering smartness and resilience, improving contribution to sustainable development outcomes, assessing community performance and fulfilling applicable obligations.
What is the ISO 37101 certification process in the UAE?
A certification programme normally begins with application and scope review, followed by assessment of the management system within the defined community context. The certification audit examines implementation and objective evidence, followed by the applicable certification decision and ongoing surveillance cycle.
What can be included in an ISO 37101 certification scope?
The scope can identify the community, territorial boundaries, designated organization, locations, functions, programmes, projects and services covered by the management system. It should accurately describe the activities and responsibilities being assessed.
Can ISO 37101 apply to cities in the UAE?
Yes. ISO states that the standard is applicable to communities including cities. UAE municipalities, designated community organizations and other responsible entities can consider the standard within their defined responsibilities and territorial context.
Is ISO 37101 certification mandatory in the UAE?
ISO 37101 certification is not universally mandatory for every community or organization in the UAE. It may be requested through programmes, contracts, procurement arrangements, governance objectives or other stakeholder expectations. Any sector-specific obligation should be confirmed for the organization concerned.
What evidence may be reviewed during an ISO 37101 assessment?
Evidence can include the sustainable development policy, community context information, objectives, plans and programmes, stakeholder information, performance data, operational controls, evaluation records, internal reviews, management review and improvement actions.
How does ISO 37101 address economic, environmental and social outcomes?
ISO 37101 uses a holistic sustainable development approach that considers the economic, environmental and social context of a community. The management system helps connect policy, objectives, programmes and performance evaluation with intended sustainable development outcomes.
How does ISO 37101 support community resilience?
The standard identifies fostering resilience as an intended outcome. Organizations can use context analysis, objectives, planning, risk consideration, programmes and performance evaluation to strengthen how the community addresses relevant challenges.
How does ISO 37101 relate to smart communities?
ISO 37101 identifies fostering smartness as an intended outcome alongside sustainability and resilience. It provides a management-system approach rather than prescribing a particular technology platform or city technology solution.
Does ISO 37101 address climate action?
Yes. ISO 37101:2016 has Amendment 1:2024, titled Climate action changes. ISO lists the amendment as published and applicable to ISO 37101:2016.
Can ISO 37101 be used with other ISO standards?
Yes. Organizations may use ISO 37101 alongside other relevant management-system or sustainable-community standards where their scopes and purposes align. The applicable interfaces should be defined by the organization.
Does ISO itself issue ISO 37101 certificates?
No. ISO develops and publishes International Standards but does not perform ordinary management-system certification. Organizations seeking certification engage an external certification body for the applicable conformity assessment programme.
What is the relationship between ISO 37100 and ISO 37101?
ISO 37100 provides vocabulary for sustainable cities and communities, while ISO 37101 provides the management-system framework for sustainable development in communities. ISO 37100:2026 is the current vocabulary edition.
What information is useful for an ISO 37101 certification quotation?
Useful information includes the community and territorial boundaries, designated organization, locations, functions, population or service context where relevant, programmes and services, personnel involved, operating arrangements, external provision and intended certification scope.
AUTHORITATIVE ISO REFERENCES
ISO 37101 information and certification guidance.
The following official ISO and ISO/TC 251 sources support the standard information presented on this page, including the current 2016 edition, the ISO 37100 family and application guidance.
ISO.ORG · OFFICIAL SOURCE
ISO 37101:2016 — Sustainable development in communities
Official ISO page confirming Edition 1, publication in July 2016 and current published status.
Open official source
ISO.ORG · OFFICIAL SOURCE
ISO/AWI 37101 — Edition 2 under development
Official ISO information on the next edition of ISO 37101, currently under development and intended to replace ISO 37101:2016.
Open official source
ISO.ORG · OFFICIAL SOURCE
ISO 37104:2019 — Practical local implementation guidance
Official ISO guidance for practical local implementation of ISO 37101 in cities and other settlements.
Open official source
ISO.ORG · OFFICIAL SOURCE
ISO 37101:2016/Amd 1:2024 — Climate action changes
Official ISO information confirming the published climate action amendment applicable to ISO 37101:2016.
Open official source
ISO 37101 CERTIFICATION IN UAE
Build a management system for sustainable development in communities around the context and outcomes that support community objectives.
If your organization manages infrastructure, facilities, equipment, fleets, utilities or other significant community programmes, services or responsibilities, ISO 37101 certification can provide independent assessment of the management system for sustainable development in communities within its defined scope. Discuss your locations, community context and intended certification scope with Veritas Assurance.
Request an ISO 37101 Quote
