New National Initiative to Tackle Textile Waste in the UAE

The UAE generates an estimated 220,000 tonnes of textile waste each year. Now, a new national initiative called Naseej aims to change that. Launched by the National Projects Office, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Emirates Foundation and Tadweer Group, Naseej seeks to help shift the country's textile sector away from a traditional "use and discard" model and towards one focused on reuse, recycling and resource efficiency. The platform will bring together government entities, businesses, researchers and community organisations to coordinate action across the textile value chain. Its work will focus on five key areas: collection and recycling, awareness and outreach, behavioural research, policies and regulations, and circular business innovation. Following its launch, Naseej will roll out programmes aimed at strengthening textile collection and recycling systems, supporting research and pilot projects, and developing scalable circular solutions for the industry. Members of the public will get their first chance to engage with the initiative through The Fabric of Possibility, an interactive activation taking place at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi from June 5th to 7th. The event will explore the impact of textile waste and showcase more sustainable alternatives, with additional editions planned across the UAE.