Forging a Greener Future: Aldar and EMSTEEL Pioneer Hydrogen-Based Steel Rebar in Landmark Abu Dhabi Mosque

Abu Dhabi’s path to a sustainable built environment just got a powerful new symbol: a mosque built not only with prayer in mind, but with planetary stewardship at its core.

In a groundbreaking move that reshapes the future of construction in the Middle East and North Africa, real estate giant Aldar has announced it will be the region’s first developer to utilize hydrogen-based steel rebar, a revolutionary low-carbon material supplied by EMSTEEL Group in the construction of a major public building. And not just any building: Abu Dhabi’s first net zero carbon mosque.

Set within Sustainable City on Yas Island, the mosque will accommodate over 850 worshippers within a 1,595-square-meter space, making it a spiritual and architectural centerpiece with a deep environmental purpose. The structure aims to earn LEED Zero Carbon certification, becoming the first mosque in the emirate to achieve such a designation. Its design and materials reflect a new ethos in development: spirituality and sustainability can and should go hand in hand.

The Green Backbone: Hydrogen Steel Rebar

Steel reinforcement bars or rebars are essential to modern construction, providing the structural integrity necessary to hold up everything from bridges to skyscrapers. But they’re also carbon-intensive. Steel production is the second largest contributor to embodied carbon in construction, accounting for up to 20% of a building’s total emissions.

Enter hydrogen-based steel, a radical innovation capable of reducing emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional steel. Produced using clean hydrogen instead of carbon-heavy methods like coal-based blast furnaces, this type of steel marks a new chapter in the global push for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors.

“This isn’t just a new building material, it’s a catalyst for industry transformation,” said Salwa Al Maflahi, Executive Director of Sustainability and Community Outreach at Aldar. “Green steel allows us to reduce embodied carbon at scale, while maintaining performance. It’s a game changer for sustainable real estate development.”

An Industrial Milestone Born in the Emirates

The strategic partnership between Aldar and EMSTEEL was unveiled at Make It In The Emirates 2025, a flagship event showcasing the UAE’s growing industrial capacity and its commitment to sustainable innovation. The announcement was attended by top leadership from both companies, including Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group CEO of Aldar, and Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL.

“At EMSTEEL, we see this as more than a supply deal,” said Michael Rion, Chief Commercial Officer. “It’s a long-term alignment on the UAE’s sustainability agenda. By decarbonizing the construction value chain, we’re not just reducing emissions, we’re redefining what is possible in the built environment.”

A Mosque Built on Meaning

The mosque’s unique status as a net zero carbon religious institution is deeply symbolic. As a sacred space traditionally tied to values of care, reflection, and responsibility, it now also becomes a beacon for environmental consciousness. Every kilogram of hydrogen-based steel used in its structure becomes a testament to a future where faith and environmentalism are united.

The mosque is part of Aldar’s broader commitment to net zero carbon by 2050, a goal it is pursuing through a full-spectrum sustainability approach: green construction, retrofitting for efficiency, LEED certifications, circular economy practices, and increasingly stringent supplier criteria for environmental performance.

Scaling Up the Impact

While the mosque marks the first deployment of hydrogen-based rebar in the region, the implications go far beyond a single project. Both Aldar and EMSTEEL see this collaboration as a launchpad for broader adoption of green steel across residential, commercial, and infrastructure developments.

Backed by the UAE’s In-Country Value (ICV) programme, the partnership supports domestic innovation while creating circular value within the national economy. It also aligns with Operation 300 Billion, the UAE’s strategic plan to boost the country’s industrial contribution to the GDP by 2031.

Towards a Regenerative Built Environment

This project is more than a milestone, it is a message. A net zero carbon mosque, reinforced by the cleanest steel ever produced in the region, signals a profound shift in how we design and build the spaces that shape our lives. It underscores that sustainability is no longer optional, it is foundational.

As Aldar and EMSTEEL forge ahead, the mosque on Yas Island becomes not just a house of worship, but a monument to what’s possible when industry, innovation, and integrity align.

In the heart of Abu Dhabi, faith meets the future and the future is green.