23-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is building the world's first net-zero mosque
Abu Dhabi is no stranger to breaking records, but its latest project is innovation in every sense. Aldar is behind what will be the world's first net zero mosque – and it's using hydrogen steel to do it.
Set to rise in Sustainable City Yas Island, this futuristic house of worship will be the first in the Middle East and North Africa to use hydrogen-based steel rebar, supplied by EMSTEEL Group.
That's a big deal because steel is one of construction's biggest carbon offenders – but hydrogen-based steel can slash those emissions by up to 95 percent. That means fewer emissions and more blessings for the planet.
With space for more than 850 worshippers across 1,595 square metres, the mosque is aiming for LEED Zero Carbon certification – another first for the capital.
Everything from the clean energy powering it to the materials used has been chosen with sustainability in mind. From concrete and cooling to prayer carpets and lighting, this is a space where design and devotion meet cutting-edge decarbonisation.
The announcement was made during Make It In The Emirates 2025 – a heavyweight gathering of the UAE's industrial and manufacturing minds – where Aldar and EMSTEEL unveiled their game-changing partnership. It's part of a broader push to green the country's construction sector and recirculate value into the UAE economy through the National In-Country Value (ICV) programme.
The mosque is part of Aldar's bigger promise to hit net zero across its operations by 2050. With green construction, clean energy, circular economy practices and now hydrogen steel on the cards, it looks like they're well on their way to reaching real estate nirvana.
Salwa Al Maflahi, executive director of sustainability and community outreach at Aldar, said: 'The low emissions hydrogen-based rebar is more than a material innovation – it's a catalyst for reshaping our industry.
'As we transition to low-carbon construction, green steel enables us to reduce embodied carbon at scale, without compromising structural integrity or design ambition. Our partnership with EMSTEEL marks a bold step forward in accelerating the decarbonisation of our supply chain and delivering on our net zero ambitions. This is a game changer for sustainable real estate development.'
Michael Rion, chief commercial officer at Emirates Steel, part of EMSTEEL Group, said: 'At EMSTEEL, we are proud to support the region's transition to sustainable construction by supplying low-emissions hydrogen-based rebar for this landmark project. collaboration with Aldar represents a significant advancement in the use of green steel and underscores our commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and the UAE's industrial sustainability agenda.
'Through such partnerships, we aim to decarbonize the value chain of the construction industry and drive long-term impact across the built environment. This project sets a precedent for future developments, with both Aldar and EMSTEEL exploring the broader adoption of green steel across residential, commercial, and public infrastructure projects in the UAE and beyond.'
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