Palm fronds become UAE’s first tree‑free structural board
DesertBoard in the UAE has pioneered a structural building material made entirely from pruned palm fronds, eliminating the need to cut trees. The Palm Strand Board (PSB) is fire‑rated, termite‑resistant, and stores significant amounts of carbon, aligning with the country’s Net Zero 2050 strategy. T…
By Felo News Desk · Published
In the heart of the UAE, a quiet revolution is taking shape in a factory that turns discarded palm fronds into a groundbreaking building material. DesertBoard’s Palm Strand Board (PSB) is the first structural board in the world that does not require any trees to be cut down, offering a fire‑rated, termite‑resistant alternative to traditional wood and engineered panels.
From waste to construction asset
Every year, the UAE prunes millions of fronds from its 40 million palm trees to keep the trees healthy and productive. Historically, these cuttings were either burned in open pits or buried in landfills, releasing carbon dioxide and methane. DesertBoard’s process begins with chipping, shredding, and washing the fronds, then flaking and drying them before blending with a zero‑formaldehyde adhesive. The mixture is compressed into boards that can withstand up to 120 minutes of fire exposure.
According to Area Manager Abdul Khader Traboulsi, the company can produce enough PSB to fit out more than 200 Burj Khalifa towers each year. Each cubic metre of PSB sequesters up to 401 kg of carbon, and the use of PSB in the Select Group’s Peninsula project in Business Bay alone is estimated to have removed roughly 34 million kilograms of CO₂‑equivalent from the atmosphere.
Aligning with national sustainability goals
DesertBoard’s innovation dovetails with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy, the 2030 Green Diversification Programme, and the National Waste‑to‑Resources Programme. The company also complies with Dubai’s Green Building Code Al Sa’fat and Abu Dhabi’s Estidama Pearl Rating System. PSB’s zero‑formaldehyde adhesive not only meets these codes but also improves indoor air quality by eliminating VOCs linked to cancer risk.
Traboulsi notes that while the legislation exists, enforcement remains optional. “Once green building codes become the default, we’ll see a surge in sustainable construction,” he says. He predicts that sustainability will transition from buzzword to mandatory practice in the coming years, with the UAE continuing its leadership in the Arab world.
Real‑world applications and expanding reach
PSB has already been specified in several high‑profile UAE projects, including Dubai Creek Harbour phases 3‑5 by Emaar Properties, the Peninsula development at Business Bay by Select Group, and the Yas Acres project by Aldar Properties. The company has also delivered the Kempinski Residences in Dubai and is working on Damac Lagoons and Shams Townhouses in Dubai.
Beyond commercial developments, DesertBoard has built a small complex of houses entirely from PSB, including a showroom in Expo City. In July 2023, the company fabricated 25 portable houses for the Red Crescent, which were donated to Jordan as temporary housing.
While 85 % of the UAE’s wood‑based material demand is met through imports, DesertBoard offers a local solution that secures the supply chain. Distribution now spans Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, with emerging partnerships in Egypt, Libya, India, the UK, Germany, and Tanzania.
Future outlook: larger structural systems
Looking ahead, Traboulsi foresees a shift toward Large Timber Structures (LTS) and engineered bio‑based building systems. DesertBoard plans to scale PSB into larger structural and engineered construction systems, leveraging its proven performance as a carbon‑storing, high‑strength material that can replace conventional, carbon‑intensive products.
“Our vision is to make sustainability the default standard in the built environment,” Traboulsi says. For now, the company rests its case on one simple claim: PSB is the only board in the world made without cutting a tree, and at this scale, it is the first of its kind.
As the UAE continues to invest in innovation and long‑term transformation, PSB stands as a tangible example of how circular economy principles can be applied to the construction sector, reducing emissions, preserving forests, and creating durable, fire‑rated building components.
Key facts
- PSB is the first tree‑free structural board globally
- It stores up to 401 kg of carbon per cubic metre
- The board meets UAE green building codes and improves indoor air quality
- DesertBoard’s production could fit over 200 Burj Khalifa towers yearly
- PSB is already used in major UAE developments and is expanding internationally
Why it matters
PSB shows that construction can be both high‑performance and carbon‑neutral, offering a practical path toward the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Palm Strand Board?
A fire‑rated, termite‑resistant structural board made from pruned palm fronds and a zero‑formaldehyde adhesive.
How does PSB help the environment?
It eliminates the need to cut trees, sequesters carbon, and reduces emissions from construction.
Where is PSB used?
In major UAE projects such as Dubai Creek Harbour, Peninsula Business Bay, and Yas Acres, as well as in portable housing for humanitarian aid.
Is PSB available outside the UAE?
Yes, distribution covers Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and emerging markets in Egypt, Libya, India, the UK, Germany, and Tanzania.
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Building Sustainability: The board that never felled a tree”
