In the last ten years there has been a proliferation of regional building rating systems across the Middle East (ME). Most those emerging rating systems and labels emulate the British and American rating systems BREEAM and LEED that emerged in industrial countries context with an impact reduction paradigm. Thus they are neglecting the local historic, climatic, economic, technological, cultural and social context of the ME. This paper presents a case study of a recently constructed eco-lodge, AlBabenshal, in Siwa, Egypt, that performs beyond the existing rating systems requirements. The paper illustrates the environmental and sustainability design strategies adapted to AlBabenshal Lodge buildings’ context. In this study, the usability of existing rating systems in the ME is surveyed and their response to climate, occupants and society is evaluated. The paper presents a set of sustainability principles addressing (1) the site, (2) water, (3) energy, (4) resources, (5) comfort, (6) heritage and (7) social responsibility. In addition, the building is examined across the environmental criteria of LEED, Estidama Pearl Rating System and the Egyptian Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS). Results showed that the building failed to comply with the three rating systems despite its sustainability and despite winning the Egyptian Hassan Fathy Award for environmental design. The paper elaborates on this conflict and presents recommendations to improve and adapt the questioned rating systems ; Peer reviewed