Dubai’s first carbon free mosque

It’s the greenest mosque in the Middle East Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping mall developer opened the Middle East’s first net-positive mosque under the name of its late founder, Majid Al Futtaim. The mosque, located in Dubai integrates sustainable and modern design practices in support of the UAE’s Green Agenda 2030, ensuring energy efficiency, resource optimisation, and minimal environmental impact.

“The opening of the first net-zero emissions mosque in the Middle East is an achievement that reflects our deep commitment to the principles of sustainability, this project represents a significant shift in the field of environmental sustainability and highlights our fruitful collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim in implementing this initiative,” says Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, General Manager, Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department.

“It serves as a live example of a successful partnership between the public and private sectors, setting a new standard for responsible innovation in building and maintenance, it also aligns with the noble Islamic values that advocate for environmental preservation and protection.

“As a result of a series of key sustainable features, the Majid Al Futtaim Mosque is set to become the first bespoke project to achieve BREEAM certification.

Related: Is this Chicago mosque the greenest in the world? BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a sustainability assessment method that is used to masterplan projects, infrastructure and buildings.

The mosque’s construction incorporates advanced mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, renewable energy sources, and sustainable building practices designed to achieve a net-positive status.

Key features include a robust renewable energy system with  203 solar photovoltaic panels, providing a total installed solar capacity of 116.73 kWp and generating over 204,121 kWh annually, providing more than 115% of the mosque’s energy demand. Related: Green Muslims need to read these 11 booksThe excess green energy  is supplied back to the grid to be used across the communnity. Additional energy-efficient systems include  a solar-powered hot water system, LED lighting, an efficient HVAC setup, EV charging stations and a Building Management System (BMS) to optimise energy consumption.