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.

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.

Read More: Here are 7 unique things to do in Dubai today

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.