Aldar has revealed plans to be the first developer in the Middle East and North Africa to incorporate hydrogen-based steel rebar into a construction project.
Provided by EMSTEEL Group, this steel will considerably lower carbon emissions during the building of Abu Dhabi’s inaugural net zero carbon mosque in Sustainable City Yas Island.
The mosque, spanning 1,595 square metres and accommodating over 850 worshippers, aims to secure LEED Zero Carbon certification by achieving net zero carbon emissions through the use of clean energy and low-carbon materials, including hydrogen-based steel manufactured through low-emission processes.
The collaboration between Aldar and EMSTEEL seeks to drive innovation in the industry and hasten the shift towards sustainable construction practices. It will stimulate demand for eco-friendly materials in the region, creating shared value by reinvesting benefits within the UAE economy under the National In-Country Value (ICV) initiative.
Steel ranks as the second largest source of embodied carbon in construction after concrete, contributing up to 20 per cent of a building’s total emissions. Hydrogen steel production can cut carbon emissions by as much as 95 per cent compared to traditional steel manufacturing.
The partnership was officially launched at Make It In The Emirates 2025 — an event showcasing the UAE’s rapidly growing industrial and manufacturing sectors — attended by Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group CEO of Aldar, and Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL.
