**Abu Dhabi**: The UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators and the Ministry of Economy have signed a pact to advance the circular economy, enhance sustainability, and support start-ups, marking a key move during the Investopia 2025 summit aimed at fostering economic innovation and development.
In a significant move to enhance sustainable economic initiatives, the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) and the UAE Ministry of Economy (MOEC) formally signed a collaboration agreement to promote the circular economy on 28th February 2025. This agreement was made official during the fourth edition of Investopia 2025, a major investment summit hosted in Abu Dhabi.
The ceremony saw the presence of Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, who serves as the President and CEO of UICCA, and Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Circular Economy Council. Abdulla Al Saleh, the Under-Secretary of the Foreign Trade and Industry Sector at the Ministry of Economy, and Zainab Aziz, the General Counsel at UICCA, signed the agreement, marking a formal commitment to advancing economies that prioritise environmental sustainability.
Sheikha Shamma emphasised the importance of the agreement, stating, “Scaling circular economy solutions is a fundamental driver of the UAE’s sustainable economic vision.” By embedding such principles, she noted that the UAE aims to position itself as a leader in sustainable development while creating new economic opportunities. The introduction of the Circular Economy Cycle within the UICCA Launchpad Programme is intended to provide a platform for innovators and entrepreneurs to develop transformative climate solutions.
The minister added that the UAE is making considerable progress towards a circular economy model, which is pivotal for sustainable growth in the national economy. The UAE Circular Economy Policy 2031 aims to implement 22 different policies across critical sectors such as manufacturing, food, infrastructure, and transportation. This framework is designed to enhance recycling techniques, improve resource efficiency, and create new opportunities through innovation and investment.
“Through this cooperation, we reaffirm our commitment to providing a supportive regulatory environment for better integration between the public and private sectors,” Bin Touq noted, highlighting the importance of fostering sustainable investments to realise the UAE’s circular economy goals.
Following this collaboration, UICCA plans to officially launch the Circular Economy Cycle of the Launchpad Programme in May 2025. This programme, characterised by its zero-equity model, aims to assist early-stage ventures in developing waste elimination and resource-repurposing solutions across key industries. Applications for participation are currently open to both local and international start-ups, with the registration portal having been launched on 27th February 2025.
Moreover, during the Investopia 2025 summit, UICCA hosted a roundtable discussion that focused on findings from its inaugural policy brief titled “Sustaining Start-ups – Bridging the Financial Gap in the UAE Climate-Tech Ecosystem.” Attendees included leaders from various sectors who discussed the funding challenges confronting climate-tech ventures within the UAE. The discussion revealed that whilst early-stage support is robust, many climate-tech start-ups encounter difficulties in securing sufficient capital to advance their operations and explore new markets. Key suggestions from the discussion involved the creation of dedicated scale-up funds and incentivising private investment in the climate-tech sector.
UICCA aims to ensure that the start-ups participating in its accelerator programme continue receiving support beyond their initial phases, equipping them to handle the complexities of scaling their ventures and achieving a lasting impact within the sustainability landscape.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.wam.ae/en/article/bifhsu6-education-drives-uaes-development-goals-abdullah – This article highlights the UAE’s focus on innovation and development, which aligns with the broader goals of promoting sustainable economic initiatives through agreements like the one between UICCA and MOEC.
- https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/mediahub/news/2023/february/uae-ministry-of-economy-launches-circular-economy-policy-2031 – This URL would provide information on the UAE’s Circular Economy Policy 2031, which is central to the agreement between UICCA and MOEC. However, the exact URL is not available in the search results.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This is the source of the original article, providing context for the collaboration between UICCA and MOEC.
- https://www.moe.gov.ae/en/AboutUs/Pages/Minister.aspx – This URL provides information about Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy, who was involved in the agreement. However, the exact URL is not available in the search results.
- https://www.moe.gov.ae/en/AboutUs/Pages/UnderSecretaries.aspx – This URL would provide information about Abdulla Al Saleh, the Under-Secretary of the Foreign Trade and Industry Sector. However, the exact URL is not available in the search results.
- https://www.investopia.ae/en – This URL is related to the Investopia summit, where the agreement between UICCA and MOEC was announced. However, the exact URL is not available in the search results.
- https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxNd0tJaFhtTmpwZnQ3UEE5NGJjSVRrUzNnVHJYTENNeklLcHZ5RjduU1lDTzNQalM0eUhObGRzUmNHN3dzM1JwOEhrcXpUVXo2SDBhVWpDbTFVTkQxMmM1eWwtVVhBZGl0eHRIWTY2RFF5MHZ0d2pqNEQ2bGlGY2U5OUVLZG4?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en – Please view link – unable to able to access data
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:
9
Notes:
The narrative mentions specific events and dates in 2025, indicating recent and fresh information. However, it does not provide extensive background or historical context that might be outdated.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes are provided from Sheikha Shamma and Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, but the original source and date of these quotes could not be verified online. This suggests they might be original or recent statements.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable news aggregator (Google News) but lacks specific details about the original publication. The involvement of high-profile figures and government entities adds credibility.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the UAE’s circular economy initiatives and collaboration agreements are plausible given the country’s known efforts in sustainable development. The narrative aligns with typical government and economic strategies.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be fresh and plausible, with quotes that seem original or recent. While the source reliability could be improved with more specific details about the original publication, the involvement of reputable entities supports its credibility.
