Expo City Dubai awards UAE’s first green licences to 6 sustainability-focused businesses
Exclusive benefits designed to accelerate sustainable business growth
DUBAI – The Expo City Dubai has issued UAE’s first Expo Green Licences to six pioneering businesses, marking a significant step in the development of its Green Innovation District.
The licences have been awarded to organisations working across sectors including climate technology, circular economy, waste management and sustainability consultancy. The initiative is designed to strengthen the UAE's position as a global destination for environmentally focused businesses while supporting national ambitions for sustainable economic growth and net zero.
Developed by Expo City Dubai, the Expo Green Licence is the first licensing product of its kind in the UAE and forms a central pillar of the Green Innovation District, a landmark initiative launched jointly with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
Green Licence
The first six recipients represent a diverse mix of multinational companies, established sustainability specialists and innovative local enterprises.
They include AirJoule, a climate technology company that has developed an atmospheric water harvesting system capable of producing water from air, and Dubai-based WAT (We Are Tech), an electronic waste management company that helps organisations responsibly dispose of, recycle, refurbish and repurpose outdated electronic devices and IT equipment while ensuring secure protection of sensitive data.
A new milestone for the Green Innovation District. In the presence of His Excellency Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, six pioneering businesses were presented with the Expo Green Licence.
— Expo City Dubai (@expocitydubai) July 7, 2026
Designed to support sustainability-led businesses, the… pic.twitter.com/zylelVnnlF
Global circular economy company Polygreen has also joined the first group of licence holders. The company delivers environmental, recycling, waste management and resource recovery solutions in multiple markets.
Also receiving the licence are Carbon Assurance, the first UAE-established organisation accredited by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) to conduct greenhouse gas validation and verification, and Carbon Standard, which supports governments and businesses in setting sustainability targets, developing emissions reduction strategies and measuring, verifying and reporting environmental performance.
RBT Collective, a long-standing partner in Expo City Dubai's Terrazo food rescue programme, completes the first cohort. The organisation works with communities and businesses to redesign food systems, reduce food waste and promote circular economy solutions.
The six organisations are the first among a growing pipeline of applicants from both the UAE and international markets seeking to establish operations within the Green Innovation District.
National goals
Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chief Executive Officer of Expo City Dubai Authority, said attracting, enabling and expanding sustainability-focused businesses, innovation and talent is central to the Green Innovation District's mission of delivering measurable environmental, economic and social impact.
She said the initiative aligns with the UAE's broader efforts to strengthen local industry while supporting national sustainability priorities.
"We are proud to advance the District's mission as we grant the first green licences, entrusted to these pioneering organisations that now form part of a collaborative, solutions-driven ecosystem that will contribute to UAE's net zero and economic diversification ambitions, helping to create a brighter future for generations to come," she said.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the UAE Circular Economy Council, said the country has made significant progress in establishing an integrated national framework that supports the transition towards a circular economy while strengthening sustainable and advanced industries.
He described the Expo Green Licence as an important mechanism for encouraging innovation and accelerating the growth of green businesses.
According to Al Marri, the initiative supports the objectives of the "We the UAE 2031" vision by diversifying the national economy, accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources and enhancing the country's competitiveness in sustainability and environmental innovation.
District benefits
The Expo Green Licence has been created to address a gap in the UAE licensing market by offering sustainability-led businesses of every size, sector and stage of development a dedicated licensing framework with specialised support.
To ensure only genuine sustainability-focused organisations become part of the Green Innovation District, businesses must demonstrate strong environmental, social and governance credentials through recognised certifications, ESG ratings or documented records of achievement.
The licensing programme also introduces two qualification pathways.
Established companies that already possess recognised ESG ratings or equivalent assessments from accredited agencies may qualify directly.
Small and medium-sized enterprises can also become eligible through an evidence-based assessment process if they offer scalable products or services supporting climate action, sustainability initiatives, energy efficiency, water efficiency or circular economy solutions.
Expo City Dubai's in-house sustainability experts individually assess each SME application before
determining eligibility.
Successful applicants receive a comprehensive package of support valued at more than Dh400,000. The benefits include discounted business setup fees, sustainability advisory services, engagement and promotional support, collaboration opportunities and access to specialised business networks.
The licence also opens doors to local and international business missions organised through the Ministry of Economy and Tourism while providing opportunities to collaborate with MAJRA, the UAE's national platform supporting sustainability-focused businesses and initiatives.
The Expo Green Licence forms an integral part of the wider Green Innovation District, which combines Expo City Dubai's sustainable infrastructure with dedicated research and development facilities, specialised light manufacturing capabilities and testbed environments where companies can develop and deploy new technologies.
The district is designed to help businesses create climate-aligned, circular economy and clean technology solutions while connecting them with funding opportunities, strategic partners and subject-matter experts.
Licence holders will also gain access to the Green Majlis, an expert forum bringing together industry leaders to discuss sustainable solutions, strengthen partnerships and develop environmentally responsible business networks.
In addition, companies will receive fast-track access to intellectual property support through the Ministry of Economy and Tourism's planned on-site Green IP office. Once operational, the office will help businesses protect sustainable innovations, accelerate patent registration, support technology localisation and promote the development of green and circular economy projects.