Dubai has announced its decision to switch to green concrete to make its ever-expanding built-up areas healthier and more sustainable. From April, all new buildings in Dubai will have to use green alternatives to ordinary portland cement (OPC).
The Dubai Municipality (DM) has made it mandatory for consultants and contractors to use more fly ash and ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS). A maximum of 34% OPC will be allowed in concrete mixes.
This aims to keep Dubai a healthy city, following the highest standards of sustainable development and providing a clean and pollution-free environment.
Dubai Municipality Director-General Hussain Nasser Lootah said the new options comply with green building requirements, are more durable and offer better quality at the same or even cheaper rates.
Dubai would realise an estimated saving of Dh192 billion by extending the durability of buildings.
Robin Styles, technical support manager of CEMEX said the industry in Dubai was equipped to switch to green concrete.
“By using these alternative options, you can reduce the carbon footprint of concrete by up to 45%,” he said.
As part of the “#Sustainable Dubai” initiative, readymix trucks will also have a makeover.
A truck displaying the new design showing a green skyline of Dubai and carrying the tagline “Green Concrete for a Sustainable Future” was on view and officials saw a demonstration of the green concrete mixing process.
