UAE turns desert sand into eco-friendly bricks using nearly half the cement
Researchers at the University of Sharjah have developed a method to create eco-friendly bricks using desert sand and industrial by-products like slag and ash. This process significantly reduces the need for Portland cement and does not require energy-intensive thermal curing, offering a sustainable construction solution.
Why it matters
This innovation addresses the environmental impact of the construction industry and provides a practical use for abundant desert resources.
Dubai is surrounded by dunes and for a country that has ample desert sand, one would think they would utilise it as a resource. However, the sand underfoot has long been a poor fit for ordinary concrete. Wind makes desert grains unusually fine, smooth, and rounded, so they do not interlock as easily as the rougher aggregate commonly drawn from rivers. But research from the University of Sharjah transforms desert sand into eco-friendly bricks, according to a report by EurekAlert! The November 2025 research was published in the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering and released in February 2026 by the university.An abundant materialIn the study, researchers including Dr Mohamad Arab and Professor Maher Omar combined desert sand collected in the Sharjah region with alkali-activated binders.
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