Urbaser and Tadweer Group have begun construction on a plant in Abu Dhabi with a capacity for 400,000 tonnes of waste per year. The facility is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2028.
A new materials recovery plant is already underway in Abu Dhabi. According to El Correo del Golfo, the facility, driven by the Spanish company Urbaser alongside Tadweer Group, will process 400,000 tonnes of waste annually and is expected to operate from the second quarter of 2028.
The laying of the first stone was attended by Rafael Guinea, global director of Treatment at Urbaser, and Etienne Petit, CEO of Tadweer Group. Petit stated that the start of construction represents a step forward for the project and for the emirate's circular economy goals:
“It reflects our focus on execution and our commitment to enhancing large-scale resource recovery”
Of the 400,000 tonnes annually, 200,000 will correspond to municipal solid waste and another 200,000 to waste from commercial and industrial activities. The plant will incorporate automated sorting, artificial intelligence, and optical technologies to better separate materials and reduce landfill deposits.
The project is part of Abu Dhabi's strategy to divert 80% of its waste from landfills by 2031. Guinea noted that the facility will combine these technologies with Urbaser's international experience in waste treatment and resource recovery.
Urbaser was awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract in July 2026. The company will undertake the construction phase and, once the plant is operational, will manage it for five years through a joint venture, with a 60% stake for Urbaser and 40% for Tadweer Group. The facility will be integrated into Abu Dhabi's waste management system and will support the emirate's energy recovery network.
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