An eco-friendly mosque which is expected to reduce energy and water consumption by 15-19 per cent will come up in Dubai by 2013. The Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation said the Dh25-million mosque will be located behind Al Rowad village near the Clock Tower Roundabout in Deira.

The 45,000-square-foot mosque will be in a 105,000-square-foot area. As the largest mosque in Dubai, the facility will accommodate 3,500 worshippers.

The mosque will feature green spaces, particularly gardens on the roof for heat insulation. In addition to green building technologies such as solar panels to heat water for ablution and the Imam’s house, the mosque will host recycle plants to treat water used in ablution for gardening and washroom purposes.

Equipped with the latest technologies in energy efficiency to curb wastage in air-conditioning and air purity system, the mosque will be constructed with eco-friendly materials and avoid the use of asbestos and polystyrene. It will additionally use thermal insulation, programmed and automatic thermostat, suction fans with energy recovery units, and natural light and heat-reflective colours, especially at the interfaces and roofs.

Tayeb Abdulrahman Al Rais, Secretary-General of the AMAF, said: “The construction of the mosque is in line with the UAE leadership’s vision towards the conservation of resources, environment protection and the adoption of green practices. With the global call for energy conservation, it is essential for developers to take responsibility for creating buildings that comply with green standards.

‘‘The mosque project complies with best practices in corporate governance, while being transparent and gaining the validation of Awqaf, government and private institutions.”