Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — June 30, 2025 — The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan-based WORKSTUDIO Corporation to strengthen cooperation on circular economy development and support the UAE’s Circular Economy Agenda 2031.
The agreement focuses on establishing an integrated circular economy framework that promotes sustainable resource management, reduces carbon emissions and supports the country’s transition toward a more sustainable national economy.
The MoU was signed during a ceremony held in Dubai and attended by His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the UAE Circular Economy Council. The agreement was signed by H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry, and Kazuhiro Hara, CEO of WORKSTUDIO Corporation.
H.E. Bin Touq said the partnership is a “strategic step towards consolidating the UAE’s position as a leading hub for sustainable development,” adding that the Ministry remains committed to integrating circular economy principles into key sectors, including food, manufacturing, sustainable transportation and green infrastructure.
“Our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of preserving natural resources, drive transformation in environmental and financial practices, and promote sustainable production and consumption,” Bin Touq said. “We aim to foster investment in natural resources and apply successful economic tools, in line with the wise leadership’s vision to accelerate the shift towards a circular economy model based on sustainability and competitiveness.”
He added that the MoU is also in line with the goals of the Year of Community 2025, encouraging sustainability practices across critical fields and contributing to building a cohesive, prosperous and environmentally conscious society.
The agreement outlines the launch of a joint project centered on WORKSTUDIO’s proprietary system, PANECO®︎, developed in Japan to recycle textile and food waste using international best practices. The system transforms textile waste into usable materials and converts food waste into organic fertilizers, aiming to reduce costs, conserve resources and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions caused by traditional disposal methods such as incineration.
Key components of the initiative include developing recycling infrastructure in the UAE, training national talent, and forming a joint coordination committee to ensure successful implementation and cooperation between public and private sector stakeholders.
The project also aims to build a circular supply chain by connecting producers, consumers and manufacturers in a collaborative ecosystem. It will encourage eco-friendly production practices — from waste collection and recycling to converting waste into usable end products. The initiative will support stakeholder engagement across all seven emirates and promote scalable circular economy models throughout the country.