Across the GCC, municipal, construction, and commercial waste streams are growing faster than local treatment capacity, leaving significant economic value unrealised and placing increasing strain on landfills.
Governments across the region have set aggressive waste diversion targets and are actively backing them through policy, regulation, and large-scale infrastructure projects. Examples include Saudi Arabia’s 2035 diversion roadmap, the UAE’s Circular Economy Policy, and Oman’s first utility-scale Waste-to-Energy (WtE) tender planned for 2025.
Proven solutions such as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), organics diversion, Construction & Demolition (C&D) recycling, and Waste-to-Energy are already operating successfully at scale in parts of the GCC. These models can be replicated, localised, and scaled to unlock environmental and economic value across the region.
GCC Waste Landscape at a Glance
United Arab Emirates
Dubai generated 10.08 million tonnes of total waste in 2023
National targets include 75% diversion, with Abu Dhabi aiming for 80% diversion by 2030
Tadweer Group reported an overall 34% diversion rate across waste streams in 2024
Saudi Arabia
National Waste Management Strategy targets ~90% diversion by 2040
Diversion pathways include:
40% recycling
31% composting
16% Waste-to-Energy
Saudi Investment Recycling Company (PIF) is building national recycling capacity
Municipal Solid Waste estimated at ~2.0–2.4 million tonnes per year
Be’ah has restructured the sector and launched circular economy initiatives
First utility-scale WtE project (Barka) entered qualification phase in August 2025
Expected capacity: 95–100 MW, with generation from 2031
Qatar
Among the world’s highest per-capita MSW generators (~1.8–2.0 kg/person/day)
Mesaieed Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre integrates:
Sorting
Composting
Waste-to-Energy
Capacity of up to 2,300 tonnes/day, exporting ~48.8 MW of power
Kuwait
Per-capita MSW generation of ~1.6–1.7 kg/person/day
Successfully addressed the world-famous 42 million tyre dump through relocation and recycling
Bahrain
Generates >1.2 million tonnes of solid waste annually
Approximately 60% organic waste
Supreme Council for Environment publishes open waste datasets and is tightening environmental regulations
Where Value Leaks
Despite progress, significant value continues to be lost across the GCC waste system due to structural and operational gaps.
Key Leakage Points
Organics sent to landfill, resulting in methane emissions and lost compost or biogas value
Mixed recyclables exported or landfilled due to limited domestic secondary markets
Construction and demolition waste disposed instead of being crushed or screened for aggregates
Bulky single-stream collection systems reducing Material Recovery Facility yields
High levels of food waste across hotels, households, and the food & beverage sector
Scale of the Challenge
30–40 million tonnes of waste generated annually across the GCC
~7–9 million tonnes of annual food wastage across households, retail, hospitality, and supply chains
Signals of Progress
Policy and Institutional Momentum
UAE food-waste initiatives diverted 5,466 tonnes in 2024, reaching 28.9 million beneficiaries
Participating hotels achieved ~47% food waste reduction in pilot programs
Saudi Arabia is locking in high diversion targets aligned with the Saudi Green Initiative
Infrastructure Development
Dubai’s Warsan WtE plant is fully operational:
~1.9 million tonnes/year processed
~200 MW of power generated
Abu Dhabi is adding a greenfield MRF to support its 80% diversion by 2030 target
Oman is progressing landfill gas-to-energy and WtE projects
National Targets Snapshot
UAE national diversion goal: 75%
Abu Dhabi (Tadweer): 80% by 2030 (currently ~34%)
Oman (Be’ah): 80% by 2030
Case Study: Kuwait’s “World’s Largest Tyre Graveyard”
The Challenge
For decades, tens of millions of used vehicle tyres were illegally dumped in the Sulaibiya / Arrhiya area of Kuwait, forming what was widely described as the world’s largest tyre graveyard. The site was located just ~7 km from residential areas and posed severe public health, environmental, and land-use risks.
Repeated fires released toxic smoke, heavy metals, PAHs, and VOCs, while the land itself was earmarked for future urban and smart-city development.
What Kuwait Did
Relocated >42 million tyres to a new Al-Salmi recycling hub
Executed ~44,000 truck trips, clearing the site by mid-2021
EPSCO Global operates a plant processing ~3 million tyres/year into rubber tiles and flooring
Al Khair Group manages transport and is developing pyrolysis facilities for oil, carbon black, and syngas
Project coordinated by EPA, PAI, Kuwait Municipality, and Customs
Outcomes
Major environmental and land-use liability removed
Creation of a structured tyre recycling value chain
Recovery of materials such as rubber, fuels, and steel
High-visibility GCC example of circular economy execution at scale
Additional Case Studies
Dubai Waste Management Centre (Warsan, UAE)
One of the world’s largest single-phase WtE plants
Processes ~1.9 million tonnes/year of MSW
Generates ~200 MW of electricity
Integrated with treated sewage effluent and surrounding infrastructure
Sharjah Emirates Waste to Energy (UAE)
Joint venture between BEEAH and Masdar
Inaugurated in 2022 at ~30 MW
Expansion announced in 2025 to nearly 60 MW
Processing capacity increasing from 300,000 to ~600,000 tonnes/year
Riyadh C&D Recycling (Saudi Arabia)
Facility capacity of ~600 tonnes/hour
Designed to exceed 90% recycling of C&D waste
Qatar DSWMC (Mesaieed)
Integrated national facility combining sorting, digestion, composting, incineration, and landfill
Treats up to 2,300 tonnes/day
Generates ~48.8 MW of power
Oman Market-Shaping Pipeline
Landfill gas-to-energy tender in 2024
Barka WtE RFQ in 2025
Positions Oman to convert disposal liabilities into baseload renewable energy from 2031
How We Can Help
Strategic Planning
National and municipal diversion roadmaps aligned with 2030–2035 targets
Cost-curve modelling and phased capital investment planning
Project Development
Bankable project packaging for:
Material Recovery Facilities
Organics (anaerobic digestion and composting)
Construction & Demolition recycling
Landfill gas
Waste-to-Energy
Support across PPP and IPP models, tariffs, gate fees, and performance KPIs
Operational Programs
Food waste audits and hotel portfolio programs
Measurable diversion outcomes and cost savings
Corporate Circularity
Circular economy strategies for large industrials and municipalities
