world’s first net-zero mosque in abu dhabi integrates rammed earth

masdar city mosque generates 100% of its annual energy

Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, globally recognized for its advanced sustainable design, has broken ground on the world’s first net-zero energy mosque. Designed by Arup and developed by Aldar, the project integrates passive cooling systems, rammed earth walls, and hydrogen-based steel to achieve a net-zero energy profile as it targets LEED Zero Carbon certification.

Its circular 1,595-square-meter footprint will accommodate more than 1,300 worshippers, and its compact geometry will reduce thermal load and internal water consumption. Passive airflow strategies are also central to the design team, with interiors shaped to capture and direct soft breezes, reducing reliance on mechanical systems to cool prayer rooms, ablution spaces, and circulation zones. These systems combined with the integration of solar panels expected to generate 100% of its annual energy needs, and greywater recycling will achieve a 55% reduction in water consumption.

all images courtesy of Arup

aldar and arup pay homage to the uae’s historic earth mosques

One of the Masdar City Mosque’s defining features is its rammed earth construction, rare in contemporary public buildings in the region, but historically common in some of its earliest mosques. Formed from local materials, the walls cool air and regulate internal temperatures by leveraging thermal mass. This approach is complemented by a passive cooling system as the net-zero mosque is shaped to channel prevailing breezes, particularly through a tiered window system on the roof. Together, these systems allow the building to operate with 35% less energy than comparable benchmarks, without relying exclusively on mechanical cooling. Arup’s selected material palette is also carefully considered, using low-emission concrete, sustainable prayer carpets, and energy-efficient lighting systems to reduce embodied and operational emissions at every stage.

In parallel with its architectural approach, the mosque – the second in Masdar City — also marks a regional milestone in material innovation. Aldar has partnered with EMSTEEL to incorporate hydrogen-based steel rebar, making it the first development in the MENA region to implement this low-carbon alternative. According to initial estimates, this shift alone will reduce structural emissions by up to 95%.

Masdar City Mosque breaks ground