Waste management

Learn about the UAE’s efforts in waste management, recycling, waste-to-energy conversion, handling hazardous waste, and reducing plastic and marine pollution.

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Efforts to manage waste

The UAE issued Cabinet Resolution No. 39 regarding the executive regulations of Federal Resolution No. 12 of 2018 on the integrated waste management that seeks to regulate the waste management process and standardise the mechanisms and methods of proper waste disposal in line with best practices with the aim of protecting the environment and reducing risks to human health.

Waste management in the country is coordinated through local authorities. Waste issues are handled through recycling and converting waste to energy and resources, new technologies and improved waste separation and collection systems. The UAE aims to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

 

Waste management in Abu Dhabi

In the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Tadweer Group manages waste by converting them into resources. Tajmee’e, the waste collection subsidiary of Tadweer Group, collects waste from residential, commercial, industrial and construction sectors. It transports the waste safely and efficiently to treatment and recovery facilities.

 

Once the waste reaches the processing facilities, waste is sorted and separated to recover valuable recyclable materials such as plastics, metals, paper and glass. The Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) use automated and mechanical technologies to extract reusable materials efficiently from mixed waste streams, significantly increasing recycling rates and reducing landfill volumes. This way, waste is diverted from reaching landfills. Tadweer aims to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfills by 2031.

 

Read the Sustainability Report 2025 of Tadweer Group (PDF, 63 MB). 

 

Waste management in Dubai

In the emirate of Dubai, waste is classified as follows:

  1. general waste
  2. green/horticultural waste
  3. construction and demolition waste
  4. liquid waste and
  5. hazardous waste.

 

Dubai Municipality has a Waste Management Department that implements the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2021-2041. The strategy seeks to implement projects that provide practical solutions to environmental challenges and achieve the environmental objectives as per the government's agenda.

 

Moreover, Dubai Municipality introduced the smart tool ‘Rasid’, a smart waste management system, to monitor and regulate registered waste management companies. It tracks waste collection and transport in real time, helping to improve efficiency and prevent illegal dumping. The system also provides data and reports to support better waste management and decision-making.

 

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Waste management in Sharjah

In Sharjah, Beeah collects and sorts waste. Beeah has over 2,000 vehicles, including autonomous street sweepers and electric desert cleaning vehicles, for efficient and environmentally friendly waste collection. It uses technology to monitor bin status, overflowing waste and road cleanliness in real time. Their smart bins are geo-tagged with sensors for tracking and have solar-powered Wi-Fi bins for waste compaction. Beeah has developed a self-sustaining, circular model for the management of waste, where it is recycled, recovered, regenerated, and reintegrated into the economy.

 

 

Waste management in Ajman

Ajman Municipality and Planning Department has several solid waste treatment and recycling facilities. In addition, it has:

  • 3 sorting lines for municipal solid waste with a capacity of 400 tons
  • 2 lines for sorting construction and demolition waste with a capacity of 2,000 tons per day, where approximately 95 per cent of construction and demolition waste is recycled in the emirate
  • organic waste treatment with a capacity of 150 tons per day
  • sludge treatment and energy production contributing to 30 per cent reduction in sludge waste sent to the landfill.

 

One of the most impactful waste reduction initiatives of Ajman Municipality and Planning Department is segregation of waste at source. The department tackles segregation of waste at: 

  • hotels, hypermarkets and big restaurants as they contribute 45 per cent waste of total municipal solid waste. Therefore, it is mandatory for all hotels, hypermarkets and big restaurants to classify their waste as paper, plastic, food etc. on their premises.
  • government buildings - paper and plastics is segregated, recycled and then turned into environmental and charitable products like fibre-based clothes for orphaned children.
  • fish and vegetable markets - all waste from these markets is directly delivered to compost plant.

 

Waste to energy projects

Read about waste to energy projects.

Treatment of wastewater

Read about sewerage projects and treatment of wastewater.

Transporting hazardous waste

Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 on the Protection and Development of the Environment defines hazardous waste as residue or ash resulting from different activities and operations that involve hazardous substances.

The UAE has been a member state of the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (PDF, 1 MB) since 1990.

The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment issued a ministerial decision prohibiting the passage and export of hazardous waste across the UAE's borders. The ban includes the movement of hazardous waste by sea, land or air within the country without a written permission from the ministry, which is in line with Basel Convention mentioned above.

Federal Law No. 12 of 2018 on Integrated Waste Management outlines the requirements for sound management of hazardous waste, including its segregation, treatment and reduction under the supervision of the concerned authority.

 

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Sea dumping and pollution

Dumping waste in the sea raises environmental concerns which is life-threatening on the marine ecosystem in the region. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in collaboration with its partners in the public and private sectors, continues to work towards greater protection of the marine and coastal environment and the preservation of its vital role through implementing the principles of the integrated management of the marine and coastal environment.

The UAE has enacted laws banning throwing waste and oil sludge into the water by the hundreds of tankers operating in the region.

The UAE Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 on the Protection and Development of the Environment prohibits the following:

  • Any intentional disposal of pollutants or wastes from ships, aircraft or any other means into the marine environment
  • Any deliberate dumping from ships or industrial installations or other means into the marine environment.

In addition, Federal Law No. 23 of 1999 and its Ministerial Decree No. 302 of 2001,  were issued to address exploitation, conservation and development of living aquatic resources in the UAE.

Learn how the UAE conserves and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. 

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Updated on:

24 Aug 2026

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