Masdar City: Where sustainability is written in the sand

Born in 2006 with the bold ambition to  become the world’s first zero-carbon city, Masdar City is 18 this year. Like a person coming of age, it has matured from wide-eyed aspirations to a more pragmatic, yet still inspirational, approach to sustainable urban development. This transformation mirrors the global evolution in sustainable thinking, moving from simplistic notions of ‘zero impact’ to a more nuanced understanding of balancing environmental stewardship with economic viability and social responsibility.

Foster + Partners’ initial masterplan for Masdar City aimed to create a car-free, fully pedestrianised public realm with a city-wide subterranean autonomous Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system. The design envisaged an oasis producing no waste, relying entirely on renewable energy, and using traditional urban forms to create comfortable outdoor areas. As construction began, however, the global financial crisis set in, reducing demand for housing, limiting access to finance, and forcing Masdar’s parent company to demand returns on its investments there on par with those achieved in other sectors. The top-down ambitious targets and the deadlines that Masdar had set for itself not only proved challenging to achieve in practice, but also limited the city’s growth and economic viability.

Recognising the need for a more holistic approach, Masdar adjusted its strategy to balance environmental goals with economic and social considerations. This transition allowed for greater flexibility in design and implementation, attracting more businesses and residents to the development. The revised approach focused on creating a ‘greenprint’ for sustainable urban development that could be replicated elsewhere, rather than adhering to rigid zero-emission targets.

This shift and the transformation into a test-bed for sustainable design ‘created an upward spiral of sustainable innovation’, says Chris Wan, Masdar City’s associate director of sustainability. Today, developments there are a mix of cutting-edge sustainable buildings that aim to operate at net-zero emissions while being commercially viable, and other buildings with high sustainability credentials. This approach has allowed Masdar to remain at the forefront of sustainable urban development in the region while playing a major role in mainstreaming sustainability.

However, it also means that the city will not be built out fast enough to meet the 2030 completion deadline that it had set for itself. Instead, it will grow at a pace determined by market forces in the real estate and construction sectors. This flexibility – which is integrated into the revised masterplan – brings Masdar closer to the organic growth of human settlements into cities than to modern urban developments. There are 13 buildings currently under construction at Masdar, including seven within the MC Square development.

While still growing into its ‘city’ status, Masdar is now home to more than 1,000 companies, an incubator for small businesses, and has a modest but growing residential population. It has achieved impressive reductions in resource consumption compared to baseline: 57% in waste, 31% in electricity consumption, and 18% in water use. It prides itself on its integration of passive design at urban and building scales and on championing integrated design. It continues to trial and deploy new technologies, such as radiant cooling, ‘coolth’ recovery systems and efficient fan coil units, while using smart meters to monitor and collect performance data.

Masdar City’s evolution has also prioritised social sustainability through innovative urban design. Its emphasis on outdoor thermal comfort, employing both modern technologies and principles of traditional Arabic design, as well as the introduction of shared, co-living and co-working spaces are promising signs of the creation of a cohesive community. 

Building on earlier successes like the 2017 Eco-Villa Project, a net-zero energy building, Masdar continues to push the boundaries of sustainable design. Several net-zero building projects are under construction or recently completed, alongside 17 with green building certifications.

The recently completed NZ1 office building, designed by GHD, epitomises Masdar’s commitment to net-zero carbon operations. The 4,800m² project generates 100% of its energy needs on site, has reduced its potable water consumption by half, and is on track to secure certifications including LEED Platinum, LEED Zero Energy, and WELL Gold.

Scaling up ambitions, the Masdar City Square (MC²) development, designed by Woods Bagot and under construction, includes seven buildings. Its centrepiece, the 12,000m² Abu Dhabi Department of Energy headquarters, aims for net zero carbon status with a striking canopy of more than 1000 photovoltaic panels to produce 109% of its annual energy needs.

Perhaps Masdar’s most ambitious project to date is The Link, a five-building 30,000m²  mixed-use development designed by UAE-based Edge, again under construction. At its heart lies CO-LAB, a net-zero energy shared working and living space that aims to reduce energy use by 117% compared to international baselines and to source 135% of its energy from renewable energy sources. It’s set to generate an excess of 233,696 kWh of clean energy annually, offsetting all its embodied carbon within 23 years. Remarkably, the building is on track to be rated Zero Energy by the International Living Future Institute as well as LEED Platinum. 

Complementing these cutting-edge projects, RMJM Dubai’s recently completed Innovation Hub exemplifies Masdar’s commitment to mainstreaming sustainability. This 4,000m² office complex achieves high efficiency with its 3-Pearl Design Rating and LEED Gold Certification, using 40% less energy and water than conventional structures.

Looking ahead, Masdar’s top sustainability goal is to bring its carbon emissions (Scope 1 and 2) down to zero by 2030, which is closely aligned with the UAE’s 2050 net zero target. It is intensifying its focus on decarbonisation, with particular emphasis on operational carbon reduction and rooftop solar panels, without competing with the UAE’s utility-scale renewable energy projects. 

Embodied carbon is another area of emerging interest. The carbon footprint of constructing buildings in Masdar today is between 500-650 kg CO₂e/m², already in line with the RIBA’s embodied carbon goals for 2030. However, the city plans to further limit embodied carbon to 400 kg CO₂e/m² for new buildings – a significant reduction that would set new benchmarks for the industry. Masdar is also turning its attention to its existing building stock, some of which is now up to 16 years old. A retrofit programme is being developed to enhance the performance of these older structures.

As Masdar City approaches its third decade, its journey offers valuable insights into the practical challenges of sustainable urban development. The project’s evolving concept reflects the complexities of balancing environmental goals with economic realities. While significant progress has been made in areas such as carbon reduction and green building certification, Masdar City’s experience also highlights the limitations of top-down planning in creating lively urban environments.

In the face of intensifying climate change, Masdar’s ongoing efforts in innovation and adaptation may provide crucial lessons for urban planners and policymakers worldwide. As it continues to mature, the desert settlement stands not just as testament to sustainable urban development in challenging environments, but as a living laboratory whose successes and challenges could help shape the future of cities globally. 

Karim Elgendy is an architect and sustainability consultant with a focus on the Gulf, and an associate director at Buro Happold

Next steps at Masdar City
Arup's Net Zero Energy Mosque will stand as a blueprint for sustainable religious buildings
Words: Arup 

In the heart of the United Arab Emirates, the Masdar City Net Zero Energy Mosque will stand as a testament to the potential of sustainable architecture. As part of the Masdar City development, this hugely ambitious building – due to complete in 2025 – is set to become the world’s first net-zero energy mosque, seamlessly integrating environmental sustainability with cultural heritage and community values.

The design unites modern engineering and traditional aesthetics. The mosque will generate all its annual energy requirements on-site through the 1590m² of photovoltaic panels integrated into its design. This approach not only ensures energy self-sufficiency but also sets a new benchmark for sustainable religious buildings.

The mosque’s construction uses a mix of innovative active and passive strategies to reduce energy use. Traditional materials like rammed earth, sourced from the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, lend distinctive character to the mosque’s internal thermal mass – which aids cooling – and connect it to its cultural roots. This use of local materials supports the local economy and reduces the building’s carbon footprint.

The mosque’s design prioritises passive cooling, reducing energy use by 35% compared to international baselines. Its circular design cuts water consumption by 55%, with 100% of ablution water being reused for irrigation. Such features ensure that the mosque will exceed current sustainability standards, contributing to the UAE’s net-zero goals.

When complete, the 2349m2 building is expected to accommodate up to 1300 people for daily prayers, and one of the primary challenges was managing the rapid increase in occupancy during peak prayer times, which significantly affects internal temperatures. This was addressed through the integration of advanced technologies such as CO2 sensors to allow for a responsive cooling system based on occupancy. In addition, a high-performance building envelope minimises heat transfer and the mosque features operable north-orientated roof openings for nighttime natural ventilation during the cooler months, enhancing energy efficiency. 

The project underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and holistic design, incorporating passive strategies such as optimum form, thermal mass, shading and orientation to reduce energy consumption. These elements are essential for future sustainable projects.

From the project’s inception, strict adherence to a predetermined budget and regular cost assessments ensured financial responsibility. The integration of architectural, engineering, and sustainability teams under Arup’s Total Design philosophy facilitated efficient communication and streamlined processes, allowing the project to meet its stringent timeline.

The Masdar City Net Zero Energy Mosque is more than a place of worship; it is a symbol of sustainable innovation and cultural preservation. By blending advanced technology with traditional design, it offers a blueprint for future developments aiming to achieve net-zero energy goals while fostering community and environmental stewardship.