The Desert’s Air Conditioners: UAE’s Wind Towers
- Mihika Singhania
- Apr 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 7
Asia in Science turns 1 today! Thank you for your love and support! Welcome back to Asia in Science! Air conditioners as symbols of wealth? Well, that’s an oversimplification of the majestic Barjeel. Today we take you through the sprawling alleyways of Old Dubai.
The Desert’s Air Conditioners: UAE’s Wind Towers
The infamous blazing heat of the Arabian desert has made its way into folklore, idioms, and modern-day movies. Surviving in such rocketing temperatures is seemingly a feat of strength, relentless determination, and unimaginable endurance. To conquer their plaintive plight, the Emiratis innovated Barjeel.
Barjeel is Arabic for wind tower, with Emiratis mastering the art of cooling—not with electricity, but with the wind itself. Standing tall above traditional homes, these square-shaped architectural marvels captured even the faintest breeze, accompanied by their miraculous natural ventilation that channelled air indoors. It’s a simple yet brilliant structure: an open-sided tower rising from roof-tops, designed to catch and redirect cool breezes into the home while forcing out hot air — reducing indoor temperatures by up to 10°C without using a single watt of energy.
Some homes even hung damp cloths inside the towers, using evaporative cooling to chill the air even further — they truly rendered Freon futile. Barjeels are ingenious by-products of the Emirati’s impeccable understanding of airflow dynamics. Moreover, they were once status symbols in Emirati society; the taller the wind tower, the wealthier the family!
One of the best places to see Barjeels today is Al Bastakiya, the historic district of Old Dubai. Walking through its narrow, shaded alleys, you’ll spot these majestic towers perched proudly atop traditional homes. The structures aren’t just relics of the past—modern UAE architecture is bringing them back. Masdar City, the UAE’s futuristic eco-city, features a modernized wind tower that channels cool breezes through its streets.
They mastered sustainable cooling centuries ago, and today, their wisdom is more relevant than ever. With the world looking for sustainable solutions to combat rising temperatures, the objective to cut down on energy-guzzling air conditioners and reduce carbon footprint remains ubiquitous. Barjeels need not be etched into pages of history when they could serve as a blueprint for our future.
I mean running costs are low, right?
I hope you learnt something new. Thank you for reading!
-Mihika Singhania
Credits/Sources:
Cover page by @motley.desginco
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