First environmentally friendly mosque to open in Dubai

The first environmentally friendly mosque in the Islamic world is set to open its doors to worshippers on Friday.
The Khalifa Al Tajer Mosque, in Deira, will be the biggest in Dubai, with a capacity for 3,500 people.
Located on 9,755 square metres of land near Deira City Centre mall, it was designed with energy efficiency in mind and built with environmentally friendly materials.
"We aim to convert a large number of mosques in Dubai into eco-friendly facilities that use green building materials, thermal-insulation systems for lowering energy consumption and air conditioners that emit reduced greenhouse gases,” said Tayeb Al Rais, secretary of Awqaf and the Minor Affairs Foundation, a Dubai government body that is responsible for socio-economic development.
The building covers 4,180 square metres and has 5,575 square metres dedicated to landscaping.
The new mosque has been built to meet guidelines set out by the US Green Building Council Standards and Specifications.
"Setting new standards for sustainable mosques in the UAE and the wider region, the mosque will conform to green standards for reducing energy, water and materials consumption,” said Mr Al Rais.
The mosque also meets recent legislation in Dubai that requires new buildings to include green standards in the design, construction and operation of buildings.
Mohammed Hassan, director of investment at the foundation, said a range of new technologies were used in building the mosque.
"Care has been taken to moderate the water flow from taps in the ablution areas,” he said. "Used water will be recycled and utilised in washrooms and for plant irrigation.”
Solar energy is used to power the exterior lighting, a battery storage system and for heating water.
Energy-saving LED lights are installed and a control system will automatically switch on lights at prayer times or in the presence of an individual in the hall.
Daylight sensors in the mosque's extension and a climate-control system regulate the air-conditioning units.
The first Friday sermon at the mosque will be given by Salih Al Maghamsi, imam of the Quba Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Source: The National