The UAE has initiated Naseej, a national programme aimed at reducing textile waste through circular economy principles, engaging policy, industry, and the public in a comprehensive sustainability effort amid rising consumption and pollution concerns.
The UAE has recently kicked off a new national effort aimed at tackling a problem that’s been growing, but often tends to fly under the radar , namely, the amount of clothing and other textiles ending up as waste each year. According to the state news agency, Wam, the country produces roughly 220,000 tonnes of textile waste annually. This figure, quite significant in itself, has actually prompted the government to take action.
This new programme, called Naseej, or more formally, the National Initiative for Textile Circularity, was launched under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Basically, the project aims to shift the textile industry away from the traditional linear model , you know, buy, use, discard , towards a more sustainable approach that keeps materials circulating for longer periods.
Instead of merely focusing on what happens to textiles at the end of their life, Naseej is set up as a national coordination hub. Wam mentioned it will bring together policies, industry efforts, research, and public engagement across the entire textile supply chain. The National Projects Office describes it as a strategic partnership involving the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Emirates Foundation, and Tadweer Group.
This initiative reflects a broader movement in the UAE to embed circular economy principles into both everyday behaviours and industrial policies. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed, Deputy Chairwoman of the Presidential Court for National Projects, expressed that Naseej reinforces the country’s commitment to sustainability , framing it as a shared national responsibility. She added that the goal is to turn what initially looks like a problem into an opportunity by promoting better habits, responsible resource use, and increased community participation.
Abdulla bin Touq, the Minister of Economy and Tourism, highlighted that the project is about creating a national framework that connects policy, industry, and citizens around a common vision of a circular economy. And honestly, that language , well, at least to me , seems pretty handy here, especially as sustainability policies in the UAE are increasingly blending top-down regulation with grassroots campaigns and private sector involvement.
Considering the scale of waste in the region, this new initiative really has a sense of urgency behind it. Globally, textile production and disposal are already under scrutiny. Fast fashion, in particular, has accelerated consumption and shortened the lifespan of garments. It’s broadly estimated that the fashion industry contributes around 10 per cent of global emissions, while dyes, chemicals, and other manufacturing inputs further pollute throughout the supply chain.
In the UAE, the problem’s magnified by high levels of consumption paired with low rates of recovery. The Naseej website indicates that the country consumes about 500 million textile items every year, but astonishingly, 88 per cent of discarded textiles end up in landfills. If these figures are accurate, it points to a system where hardly any clothes are reused, mended, or recycled , a real missed opportunity.
Naseej is expected to tackle this gap through a combination of infrastructure, research, and community engagement. According to the National Projects Office, the programme aims to bolster collection and recycling systems, encourage innovation, and promote more conscious consumption habits. It also strives to change behaviour , so that repairing, re-wearing, or reimagining clothes becomes more of a normal thing, rather than just an exception.
This approach lines up pretty well with the UAE’s overall sustainability plans. For example, in May 2025, the country launched a nationwide campaign to measure food loss and waste across households, agriculture, and business sectors. Such efforts show that reducing waste is becoming a more prominent part of the country’s development agenda, not just an environmental afterthought.
Naseej is also planning to raise public awareness through its inaugural community event, titled The Fabric of Possibility, scheduled from June 5 to 7 at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi. It’s being presented as an immersive experience meant to help visitors understand the realities of textile waste and explore options to cut back on it.
Using a public event like this indicates that the government sees behaviour change as central to the programme’s success. As many will agree, circularity isn’t just about recycling facilities , it also depends heavily on collection systems, consumer choices, product design, and economic incentives. If these elements don’t work together, it’s going to be really tough to recover waste on a meaningful scale.
For the UAE, launching Naseej also fits into a broader narrative about future-focused development. The country has been positioning itself as a regional leader in sustainability, partly through targeted initiatives that aim to link environmental goals with economic diversification and broader social participation.
If all goes well, Naseej could foster new markets for repair, resale, recycling, or innovative circular design, ultimately reducing the environmental impact of discarded clothing. More immediately, it provides the UAE with a structured way to handle a waste stream that’s been growing along with rising consumption levels.
Of course, the real challenge now is in putting plans into action. Promoting textile circularity is one thing , but actually making it work in practice is much harder. The real test for Naseej will be whether it can move beyond awareness campaigns and develop practical systems that change the way garments are designed, bought, used, and recovered all across the country.
- https://www.apparelviews.com/uae-launches-plan-to-tackle-220000-tonnes-of-wasted-clothing-a-year – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.nmo.gov.ae/en/news/under-directives-of-uae-president-national – Under the directives of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the National Initiative for Textile Circularity, known as Naseej, has been launched to transform the UAE’s textile sector into a circular economy priority. Naseej aims to move the sector beyond linear consumption and disposal toward an integrated model that preserves resources, captures economic value, and aligns sustainability with long-term national development. The initiative is a strategic partnership between the National Projects Office, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Emirates Foundation, and Tadweer Group, serving as a unified national platform coordinating policy, industry action, research, and public engagement across the textile value chain. Textile waste presents a growing challenge globally and nationally, with annual textile waste volumes in the UAE estimated to reach approximately 220,000 tonnes. Naseej responds to this challenge with a structured national approach that strengthens collection and recycling systems, advances research and innovation, and fosters a culture of conscious consumption aligned with circular economy principles.
- https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/06/01/uae-launches-plan-to-tackle-220000-tonnes-of-wasted-clothing-a-year/ – The UAE has launched a major sustainability project to address the increasing amount of clothing waste. Approximately 220,000 tonnes of textile waste are produced annually in the country. President Sheikh Mohamed has directed the launch of Naseej, the National Initiative for Textile Circularity, which will serve as a national platform coordinating policy, industry action, research, and public engagement across the textile value chain. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed, Deputy Chairwoman of the Presidential Court for National Projects, stated that Naseej reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to sustainability as a shared national responsibility. The initiative aims to transform challenges into lasting opportunities by driving positive behavioural change, encouraging responsible resource use, and empowering community participation and volunteering. Naseej will host its inaugural community activation, The Fabric of Possibility, from June 5 to 7 at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, designed as an immersive experience to reflect on the impact of textile waste.
- https://uaenaseej.ae/en/ – Naseej is a national platform in the UAE designed to move the textile sector away from linear consumption and disposal toward an integrated circular model. The initiative coordinates policy, industry action, research, and public engagement across the textile value chain. The UAE consumes approximately 500 million textile pieces annually, with about 220,000 tonnes of textiles discarded every year. Alarmingly, 88% of discarded textiles end up in landfills, burying their story forever. Naseej aims to address these issues by promoting conscious consumption, encouraging the repair and reimagining of garments, and fostering a culture of sustainability aligned with circular economy principles.
- https://www.arnnewscentre.ae/en/news/uae/uae-president-launches-initiative-to-transform-textile-sector/ – A national initiative to transition the textile sector in the UAE towards a circular economic system has been launched under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Titled ‘Naseej’, it will be formed through a partnership between the National Projects Office, Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Emirates Foundation, and Tadweer Group. It will serve as a unified national platform coordinating policy, industry action, research, and public engagement across the textile value chain. With textile waste volumes estimated to reach approximately 220,000 tonnes annually in the UAE, ‘Naseej’ will also tackle the growing challenge with an approach that strengthens collection and recycling systems, advances research and innovation, and fosters a culture of conscious consumption aligned with circular economy principles.
- https://cairoscene.com/News/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.
- https://www.urdupoint.com/en/middle-east/under-directives-of-uae-president-national-i-2196498.html – Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ‘Naseej’ the National Initiative for Textile Circularity has been launched as a strategic mandate contributing to the transition of the textile sector toward a circular economic system. Naseej aims to move the sector beyond linear consumption and disposal toward an integrated model that preserves resources, captures economic value, and aligns sustainability with long-term national development. Formed through a strategic partnership between the National Projects Office, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Emirates Foundation, and Tadweer Group, Naseej serves as a unified national platform coordinating policy, industry action, research, and public engagement across the textile value chain.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article reports on the recent launch of the ‘Naseej’ initiative on June 1, 2026, which aligns with the publication date of June 3, 2026. No evidence of recycled or outdated content was found. The initiative’s launch is corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including the UAE’s National Media Authority ([nmo.gov.ae](https://www.nmo.gov.ae/en/news/under-directives-of-uae-president-national?utm_source=openai)) and The National ([thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/06/01/uae-launches-plan-to-tackle-220000-tonnes-of-wasted-clothing-a-year/?utm_source=openai)).
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from officials such as Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed and Abdulla bin Touq are included. These quotes are consistent with those found in official UAE government releases and reputable news outlets. However, the exact earliest usage of these quotes could not be independently verified, as they are widely disseminated in official communications and news reports.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The article cites reputable sources, including the UAE’s National Media Authority ([nmo.gov.ae](https://www.nmo.gov.ae/en/news/under-directives-of-uae-president-national?utm_source=openai)) and The National ([thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/06/01/uae-launches-plan-to-tackle-220000-tonnes-of-wasted-clothing-a-year/?utm_source=openai)). These sources are known for their credibility and independence, enhancing the reliability of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the UAE’s textile waste and the launch of the ‘Naseej’ initiative are plausible and supported by multiple reputable sources. The initiative’s objectives align with the UAE’s known commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles. No inconsistencies or implausible elements were identified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article provides a timely and accurate report on the launch of the ‘Naseej’ initiative, supported by direct quotes from officials and references to reputable, independent sources. No significant concerns were identified regarding freshness, originality, source reliability, or verification independence. The content is consistent with other reputable reports on the same topic, and all claims are plausible and well-supported.
