Masdar City’s Estidama Mosque blends beauty, sustainability and culture

Masdar City, a UAE-based sustainability and innovation hub dedicated to making all cities a solution to climate change, has inaugurated a new mosque, placing considerable focus on sustainability. The Estidama Mosque in Masdar Park can accommodate 335 worshippers.

Masdar City in Abu Dhabi has inaugurated its first mosque, the Estidama Mosque, with a focus on eco-friendly features and community. #Abudhabi #Mosque #UAE #Eco #Friendly pic.twitter.com/bsWwMJZ7bh

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The 500-square-metre domed mosque has been built using techniques intended to minimise the need for energy-intensive cooling. Traditional Arabic screens maximise natural light and reduce heat generated by direct sunlight.

Estidama Mosque so much more than a house of worship

In addition, pathways to the building are shaded by trees and intelligent sensors take care of lighting and ventilation. The mosque is expected to use over 50% less energy than a traditional building and conserve about 48% of its water, as per the Emirates News Agency.

Estidama Mosque is seen as so much more than a house of worship, said Mohamed Al Breiki, Masdar City’s executive director of sustainable development, noting people can look forward to a journey that is both spiritually profound and environmentally conscious.

UAE’s Masdar City has also announced the region’s first net-zero energy mosque. It hopes to set a new industry standard for places of worship through an innovative design that blends cultural heritage, community building and environmental protection.

The structure is believed to have a capacity of 1,300 worshippers. It can produce at least 100% of the energy it requires over the course of a year using the on-site PV panels. The mosque’s energy requirements have been reduced by 35% compared to international baselines.

Mosque just one of many net-zero energy projects in Masdar City

Similar to its approach concerning other new projects, Masdar City is also expected to ensure that at least 70% of construction refuge is diverted from landfills and use local and recycled materials as much as possible to reduce both costs and carbon footprint.

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The new net-zero energy mosque is set to break ground this year, and the date of completion is likely to be announced in the near future. The 2,349-square-metre structure is only one of several net-zero energy projects in the pioneering sustainable urban community.