HSBC Bank has announced the official opening of its new UAE headquarters built at an investment of $250 million in Downtown Dubai.

The HSBC Tower, which boasts 236,000 sq ft of workspace, is one of the world’s most sustainable buildings. It was inaugurated by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, in the presence of HSBC Group CEO John Flint and other senior government representatives and bank officials.

HSBC Tower embodies an entirely new way of working for staff in a building that leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, biometrics, and blockchain innovation. The new building is designed with sustainability and wellness in mind.

One of the most technologically-advanced in the HSBC Group, the new headquaters accommodates innovation labs, a university, training studios and collaboration hubs and has secured the coveted Gold standard for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) from the Green Building Council, it stated.

Leed-certified buildings use 25 per cent less energy and 40 per cent less water than a standard building, which contributes towards increased environmental performance.

The new building includes a gym, studio space for yoga classes, a reflection room, an outdoor terrace and a number of vibrant coffee shops and restaurants.

The enabling power of technology is something HSBC UAE CEO and group general manager Abdulfattah Sharaf sees at work every day at the new headquarters, which fosters an atmosphere of innovation that the bank needs to focus on to enable its 3,000-strong workforce to deliver for its clients.

“Whether that’s reinventing customer experience, creating a more agile working environment, promoting smart, efficient and sustainable ways of doing business, or innovating to deliver products and services that meet constantly evolving market needs, this building helps make it all possible,” remarked Sharaf, who is also the head of International for HSBC in Mena and Turkey.

At the inauguration ceremony, HSBC also unveiled the digitised Customer Service Unit, located on the ground floor of the new building, with state-of-the-art interactive touchscreens, tablets, smart watches, video conferencing and instant account opening capability.