As sustainability priorities accelerate across the Middle East, few organisations embody the region’s environmental ambition as comprehensively as Cleanco Group. With decades of experience spanning waste treatment, facilities management, and environmental services, Cleanco has played a pivotal role in supporting the UAE’s transition toward cleaner, more resilient, and circular systems.
At the helm of this transformation is Jamal Abdulla Lootah, Group CEO of Cleanco Group and President of the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), a widely respected voice in environmental leadership and operational excellence.
In this exclusive written Q&A with Sustainability Middle East News, Lootah offers a detailed look at how Cleanco is integrating advanced technologies, smart systems, and governance reforms to strengthen its sustainability footprint—while staying ahead of rising regulatory and societal expectations.
1. Cleanco has been a pioneer in environmental services for decades. How are you integrating new technologies and smart systems to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact across your operations today?
At Cleanco, we believe technology is a powerful catalyst for achieving large-scale environmental impact. Beyond just a tool, technology is the foundation of our next era of environmental leadership. Across Cleanco Group, particularly within Cleanco Waste Treatment (CWT), we are embedding advanced treatment systems across every layer of our operations. Our Rotary Kiln Incineration (RKI) facilities in Al Dhafra and Al Ain exemplify this approach, operating under the EU’s Best Available Technique and achieving 90 to 95 per cent waste-volume reduction while maintaining the highest environmental compliance rates in the region. Meanwhile, on our facilities management (FM), electromechanical, and technical contracting arm side, we are adopting intelligent FM technologies, including IoT-based asset monitoring for HVAC and utilities, AI-driven predictive maintenance, integrated CAFM/CMMS systems with mobile technician dispatch, smart building automation, and remote diagnostics dashboards. Together, these innovations significantly reduce energy consumption, equipment downtime, and carbon-heavy inefficiencies, strengthening our overall sustainability footprint.
2. With rising expectations around corporate environmental responsibility in the UAE and globally, what strategic shifts has Cleanco made to stay ahead of regulatory, social, and industry demands?
Sustainability has always been central to Cleanco’s mission, and our commitment to creating a clean and safe environment for people and the planet has driven several significant strategic shifts. In early 2026, we will be restructuring CFM, CWT, and ACECO into one unified group to enhance our environmental impact, strengthen governance, and align more closely with national sustainability objectives.
As part of this transformation, we are implementing a centralised Oracle ERP platform across all subsidiaries, integrating HR, finance, procurement, and operational systems to provide seamless digital control, unifying sustainability reporting, digital reporting, and resource optimisation. We have also expanded our waste treatment services to treat hazardous waste for industrial sector, supporting clients in meeting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 and Abu Dhabi Waste Diversion 2030 targets. We are further working on enhancing workforce skills through advanced training programs, BICSc and CMI certifications, and the MASKANI welfare initiative for our employees, ensuring our people advance with evolving regulatory expectations.
3. Cleanco operates across diverse sectors—from waste management to environmental solutions. Which innovation or initiative do you believe is having the most significant impact on the UAE’s sustainability goals?
One of our most impactful contributions today is the implementation of Rotary Kiln Incineration (RKI) technology within our CWT facilities. These systems enable the safe and complete destruction of medical and hazardous waste at required temperatures consistently achieving full compliance under UAE Environmental regulatory framework. This ensures both environmental protection and public health safety at the highest standards. Additionally, our work at Dubai’s Al Qusais landfill, spanning gas extraction, capping, environmental control, and directly supports emissions reduction and energy generation. Together, these initiatives are playing a crucial role in advancing the UAE’s sustainability and environmental resilience goals.
4. The region is moving rapidly toward circular economy models. How is Cleanco contributing to this transition, particularly in waste diversion, resource recovery, and sustainable materials management?
Our efforts to contribute to circular economy models are rooted in waste diversion and resource recovery at every possible stage. We are actively exploring sustainable solutions, including fly-ash conversion technologies, while also seeking strategic partnerships focused on resource recovery. Furthermore, our expanding capabilities in hazardous waste treatment for industrial sector ensure that even the most complex waste streams are managed safely and strengthening the UAE’s overall circular ecosystem.
5. As Group CEO, how do you balance operational efficiency with sustainability investments, and what long-term technologies or solutions are you prioritizing to future-proof Cleanco’s environmental leadership?
For us at Cleanco, operational efficiency and sustainability are not competing priorities anymore but drivers of long-term value. Every major strategy across our divisions, from ERP transformation to IoT integrations, automation upgrades, and group-wide restructuring, is designed to advance environmental impact while improving productivity. These initiatives reduce waste, minimise service downtime, and optimise resource use, ultimately enhancing service quality and environmental performance simultaneously. Our commitment to environmental stewardship isn’t only operational, it also shows through our active engagement in industry forums, global sustainability events, and knowledge sharing. These platforms allow us to advise, inspire and support other companies in adopting greener practices, for the betterment of future generations. In fact, we are preparing to participate in the upcoming World Health Expo in February 2026 as Cleanco Group and look forward to further empowering the industries in which we operate.