Researchers at the University of Sharjah, including Dr. Mohamad Arab and Prof. Maher Omar, have developed an innovative method to transform desert sand into environmentally friendly construction bricks.

Their approach replaces traditional cement with a mix of abundant desert sand and industrial byproducts such as furnace slag and ash, creating a more sustainable building material. This significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to conventional Portland cement bricks.

The resulting eco-friendly bricks demonstrated strong mechanical performance, in some cases outperforming traditional bricks. They showed high resistance to water absorption, sulfate attack, and repeated wet-dry cycles, making them suitable for harsh environmental conditions.

A key advantage of this technology is that the bricks can harden at room temperature, eliminating the need for energy-intensive firing processes. This further reduces energy consumption and environmental impact.

While the results are promising, the researchers emphasize that further large-scale testing is required before the material can be widely used in construction. Overall, this innovation offers a sustainable solution for regions like the UAE, where desert sand is abundant, and supports the move toward greener building practices.