The city’s 2024 ESG report showcases major gains in carbon reduction, smart infrastructure, biodiversity, and social inclusion, reinforcing its position as the region’s leading model for net-zero urban development

Masdar City remains the region’s most ambitious and comprehensive eco-city project, a zero-carbon blueprint without equal in scale or scope.

Its newly released Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report for 2024 reaffirms its leadership as a global 'green print' for cities of the future, demonstrating how innovation, technology, and community living can converge to create measurable environmental and social impact.

The report, prepared in reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards 2021, outlines Masdar City’s continued alignment with the UAE’s Net-Zero by 2050 strategy; and captures a year defined by progress, from cutting energy use and carbon emissions to advancing biodiversity, community inclusion, and digital resilience.

With over 30 certified green buildings, two net-zero structures completed, and three more under construction, Masdar City continues to evolve as a living model of sustainable design and operational excellence.

DRIVING MEASURABLE PROGRESS

Masdar City is a hub where sustainability meets daily living

Masdar City’s 2024 ESG performance underscores a powerful truth, that sustainability and growth can coexist.

The city recorded a 22.7 per cent reduction in energy use intensity against the ASHRAE baseline and 13.1 per cent water savings across its portfolio, while diverting 56.2 per cent of total waste through recycling and 98.3 per cent of construction waste from landfill.

Its efforts avoided 5,518 tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to removing over 1,200 passenger cars from the road for a year.

Thirty buildings across twelve projects now hold green certifications, while its two completed net-zero energy buildings and three under construction reaffirm the city’s technical leadership in sustainable construction.

In 2024, Masdar City also received WiredScore Platinum and SmartScore Gold certifications for Masdar City Square and The Link — two major developments that set a new benchmark for smart, connected, and efficient urban infrastructure.

The report highlights that sustainability at Masdar City is not limited to environmental performance. It extends deep into community life.

The city achieved 54.7 per cent Emiratisation and 31 per cent female representation, while expanding training and entrepreneurship opportunities.

The Women Entrepreneurship Programme continued to empower women-led enterprises, and the Free Zone enabled hundreds of SMEs to scale responsibly.

Social engagement flourished with more than 300 stakeholder activations, cultural events, and wellness initiatives, reinforcing Masdar City’s role as a hub where sustainability meets daily living.

From Innovation Day and the Masdar City Community Run to The Festival at Masdar City, the calendar reflected a thriving, inclusive community.

SUSTAINABILITY AS FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH & INNOVATION

Masdar City’s 2024 ESG strategy is anchored on three pillars: Environmental stewardship, social progress, and governance excellence. Each is supported by clear, measurable goals that link sustainability to value creation.

By 2025, Masdar City targets a 45 per cent reduction in energy use intensity and 100 per cent ESG training for personnel, alongside 40 per cent Emiratisation.

By 2040, it aims for 80 per cent operational waste diversion, moving steadily toward its net-zero 2050 goal.

The Green Portfolio illustrates these ambitions in action. It includes projects that define a new urban standard, such as The Link, Masdar City Square, Masdar City Mosque, Estidama Mosque, Masdar Park, Falaj Plaza, Connect Park, and M19A–D office buildings.

Some are operational, others under construction but all share one goal: to push the boundaries of sustainable architecture and urban livability.

Each project combines passive design with renewable integration, low-carbon materials, and biodiversity elements.

At Connect Park, solar panels will generate 70 per cent of the park’s power through an agrivoltaic system, while Masdar Park operates on 75 per cent solar energy.

Innovative initiatives such as IoT-enabled Hydroball devices for irrigation, Nano Clay for water retention, and reuse of greywater reinforce a culture of resource efficiency across the city.

• Tackling the carbon footprint: Masdar City’s carbon reduction strategy is multifaceted, targeting direct, indirect, and embodied emissions.

In 2024, renewable energy generation and efficiency initiatives avoided 12,746 MWh in emissions, equal to taking more than 500 cars off the road.

Energy performance monitoring, low-carbon materials, and passive cooling strategies together build a foundation for achieving net-zero across all operations by 2050.

• Water, waste and biodiversity: Water stewardship remains central. Over 30,000 cu m of water were saved in 2024 through condensate recovery, greywater recycling, and efficient irrigation systems. Treated sewage effluent (TSE) and native plant use further reduced the city’s water footprint.

Circularity is embedded across operations. Over half of operational waste is now recycled, and construction waste diversion stands at 98 per cent.

Nature-positive development complements these achievements. The planting of 7,000 mangrove trees in 2024 supports biodiversity, carbon capture, and coastal resilience. Across its landscapes, Masdar City prioritises native, drought-tolerant vegetation to preserve ecological balance.

• A thriving ecosystem of innovation and governance: Masdar City’s strength lies in its dynamic ecosystem, where sustainability, innovation, and business converge.

The Masdar City Free Zone registered 313 new companies in 2024, bringing its total to over 1,500 organisations.

Its diverse tenant base includes the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Siemens Energy, G42, the Advanced Technology Research Council, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

Together, these entities drive innovation across six high-impact clusters: Energy, AI, Agritech, Life Sciences, Smart Mobility, and Space-Tech, making the city a cornerstone of the UAE’s Falcon Economy and a global hub for sustainable technology.

Masdar City’s strong governance structure underpins this progress. Dedicated committees oversee audit, risk, inclusion, and business continuity, ensuring transparency and accountability.

The city recorded zero instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations in 2024 and achieved ISO certifications in Anti-Bribery (37001), Whistleblowing (37002), and Compliance Management (37301).

Cybersecurity and data privacy are integral to its governance framework, safeguarding the trust of its expanding business and research community.

Robust governance, ethical leadership, and stakeholder engagement remain the foundation of its long-term vision, which is to create a city where environmental performance, innovation, and inclusivity evolve together.

Through its 2024 ESG Report, Masdar City demonstrates that sustainability is no longer aspirational, and that it is operational, measurable, and replicable.

As Abu Dhabi’s flagship destination for low-carbon living, Masdar City stands as a global exemplar of how cities can lead climate action while creating value for people and planet alike.

BY Abdulaziz Khattak