Inspired By UAE's Oldest Mosque: 'Net-Zero-Energy' Mosque Opens In Masdar City

2026-02-20 11:24:47

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Masdar City Mosque blends traditional Emirati design and aims to accommodate 1,300 worshippers during Ramadan peak hours

PUBLISHED: Sat 21 Feb 2026, 5:00 AM

By:
Haneen Dajani

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Up to 1,300 worshippers living near Masdar City can pray at the city's new mosque for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan and experience firsthand how efficient its net‐zero energy design is.

The Masdar City Mosque is powered entirely by solar energy and produces as much electricity as it consumes annually, reflecting the UAE's broader push towards sustainable development and low-carbon living.

-pprayer-timeuae,Ramadan Prayer Timings

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Developed by Masdar, the mosque has been designed to serve both as a place of worship and a community gathering space, with capacity for up to 1,300 worshippers during prayers in Ramadan.

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“Sustainability is deeply rooted in Islamic teachings, which call for balance, moderation, and stewardship of the Earth,” said Ahmed Baghoum, adding that the project demonstrates how places of worship can“lead by example” in environmental responsibility.

Inspired by one of UAE's oldest mosques

Architecturally, the mosque draws inspiration from Al Bidyah Mosque, one of the UAE's oldest surviving mosques, blending traditional forms with modern engineering.

Its 42-metre-wide, column-free prayer hall creates an uninterrupted space for worship, while a 20.2-metre minaret rises as a prominent landmark within Masdar City's skyline. A rammed-earth Qibla wall - the first of its kind used in a public building in Abu Dhabi - helps regulate indoor temperatures naturally while reflecting centuries-old regional construction techniques.

Solar-powered, water-efficient

The mosque's sustainability credentials include more than 1,000 square metres of rooftop and shaded parking solar photovoltaic panels, which generate 100 per cent of its annual energy requirements. Passive design features such as optimal building orientation, shaded arcades, natural ventilation and daylighting reduce energy demand, while LED lighting and district cooling further enhance efficiency.

In a first for Abu Dhabi mosques, the building also incorporates a greywater recycling system that treats water used for ablution and reuses it for landscape irrigation.

The project has achieved LEED Platinum and 4 Pearl Estidama ratings, as well as Net-Zero Energy Certification from the International Living Future Institute.

The opening comes during the UAE's Year of Family, highlighting the mosque's role not just as a place of prayer, but as a space for families and the wider community to gather during Ramadan and beyond. Masdar City said the mosque will continue to host faith-based and cultural events throughout the year.