The UAE has partnered with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to support the development of policies aimed at making the country’s textile industry more circular. The collaboration is a key part of the recently launched Naseej initiative, a Presidential-level programme focused on moving the textile sector away from the traditional model of production, use and disposal.

The initiative will support national programmes focused on sustainable textile production, stronger systems for collecting and recycling textile waste, as well as research projects and market trials to help introduce circular solutions across the country.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation will contribute its experience from projects such as the European Union’s Textile Strategy and the development of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems in other regions. This knowledge will help guide the UAE’s approach to textile circularity.

Working with local partners, the Foundation will help develop policies and practical tools that can support the use of circular economy principles within the textile industry. The collaboration will also examine the opportunities and challenges involved in introducing circular systems across the UAE and other markets in the region.