Dubai is making a major shift. By 2027, every landfill in the emirate will be shut down. It’s not just a long-term goal—it’s a concrete deadline. The plan was announced by Dubai Municipality during its “Meet the CEO” briefing   .

Rethinking Waste from the Ground Up

For years, most of Dubai’s waste has gone straight to landfills. With six active sites and thousands of tonnes added daily, that approach is no longer sustainable. The city is growing. So is its responsibility. Dubai is now working toward a system where nearly all waste is either recycled, reused or turned into energy. It’s a complete rethink of how waste is handled, from collection to recovery.

Big Infrastructure, Bigger Impact

One major piece of the plan is already in motion. The new Warsan Waste-to-Energy plant is built to handle more than 5,600 tonnes of waste every day. Instead of burying it, the plant turns waste into electricity for over 130,000 homes. It is one of the largest facilities of its kind anywhere in the world.

The project doesn’t just stop at energy. Leftover ash from the process is used in construction, and treated water is reused on site. It is designed to keep materials in use and waste out of the ground.

At the core of the strategy is the Warsan Waste‑to‑Energy plant, a $1.1 billion facility built via a public-private partnership. It processes approximately 5,666 tonnes of waste each day and generates 220 MW of electricity—enough to power over 135,000 homes. Beyond generating energy, the plant recycles its bottom ash into construction materials, reuses treated water on-site, and operates under circular design principles   .

The Rules Are Changing

Dubai isn’t relying on one solution. It’s raising landfill tipping fees and encouraging developers to install on-site segregation systems. Private-sector players are also introducing in-building composting and digital rewards to encourage recycling at the source 

Why It’s Bigger Than Dubai

This decision doesn’t just affect Dubai. It’s part of a broader transformation across the Gulf. Governments are adopting stricter waste regulations, deploying smart bins, leveraging AI for traceability, and implementing extended‑producer‑responsibility frameworks. Dubai’s 2027 deadline signals a deeper change: landfills will only be relevant when something has gone wrong. The future demands transparency: knowing where waste goes and how it’s handled.