Housing programmes in UAE: case study analysis based on regional sustainable standards and local microclimate

A case study analysis of housing programmes in Al Ain, UAE, reveals that optimizing building orientation and space distribution can reduce cooling load by up to 5.2% while respecting local cultural norms, such as the separation of public zones for men and women. This finding offers a practical approach to improving energy efficiency in hot, arid climates without compromising traditional spatial arrangements. The study employed Revit software for energy simulations, leveraging its widespread use among architects in the region. By analyzing a typical housing unit under the UAE's housing programme, researchers demonstrated that strategic design adjustments could mitigate peak cooling demands during extreme summer temperatures. This work provides actionable insights for sustainable urban development in the Gulf region.

Bande, L., Young, K., Adan, R., Khoukhi, M., Aldarmaki, A. A. R. A., Aldhaheri, A. S. S., & Alneyadi, A. S. A. (2019). Housing programmes in UAE: case study analysis based on regional sustainable standards and local microclimate. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1343, 12027. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1343/1/012027