Dubai Holding Unveils Global Accelerator to Fast-Track Circular Innovation

Dubai Holding has launched the Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator, a global programme aimed at scaling circular-economy solutions selected from more than 1,400 applications across 93 countries. The initiative has picked 15 scale-ups to receive expert mentorship, masterclasses and direct access to investor networks as part of a bid to move beyond linear "take, make, waste" models and accelerate sustainable production across the UAE and beyond.

"We can prove that sustainability can also be profitable," said Souji founder Sergio Fernández, summarising the commercial as well as environmental ambition behind many of the companies invited to the programme.

What the cohort brings

The cohort spans food-loss solutions, resource recovery, sustainable materials, digital waste infrastructure and circular IT models. Highlights include:

• Souji (Spain) — Uses patented technology to convert used vegetable cooking oil into non-toxic cleaning products with on-site machines that reduce packaging, shipping emissions and operating costs.
• PeelPack (Switzerland) — Upcycles potato peel by-products into a biodegradable, compostable fibre-based packaging material designed to work on existing production lines; CEO Slava Drigloff said the focus is to "replace plastic at an industrial scale."
• Ottan (UK) — Founded by materials researcher and designer Ayşe Yılmaz, Ottan turns food and agricultural waste into low-carbon, design-ready bio-composite materials intended as alternatives to plastics, ceramics, stone and wood.
• BIRD Collaborative (UAE) — A social enterprise producing sustainable hospitality products such as eco-safe wooden straws; co-founder Nabil Mhanna noted each order supports an initiative to remove 1kg of ocean waste.
• Cauli — An AI-enabled reusable food packaging system that allows customers to borrow and return containers to reduce single-use packaging in F&B outlets.
• Cycled Technologies (Norway) — Co-founder and CEO Ayoola Brimmo developed hardware embedded in front-end waste bins to automate sorting at source and incentivise users with points and partner-brand discounts.
• Without — Founded by Anish Malpani, this deep climate-tech company transforms unrecyclable plastics and textile waste — including chip packets and sachets — into high-quality, recyclable materials: "We recycle what nobody else can," Malpani said.
• Rumett (Denmark) — Led by architect Diana Saleh, Rumett makes paper-free mineral gypsum wall panels partly from bio-ash; panels are mechanically fitted for dismantling and reuse rather than demolition.
• CO2Wall (Netherlands) — Builds AI-driven living green walls and roofs to cut CO2, reduce noise and lower temperatures by three to eight degrees while improving air quality.
• Seramic Materials — Founded on 2007 PhD research by Dr Khalid Al Ali and Dr Nicolas Calvet to convert low-value industrial solid waste into ceramics, tiles and thermal energy storage materials.
• Revent (UAE) — Co-founder Dhananjay Choubey offers subscription-based rental plans for IT devices to extend lifecycles and cut electronic waste: "proving that circularity can be profitable," he said.
• Enlog — Provides autonomous, AI-driven smart-grid systems; the company reports customers have saved 4,000 tonnes of CO2 and reduced energy bills by 23%.
• Nadeera (UAE) — A social enterprise with the Yallah Return digital platform, reverse vending machines and AI-powered infrastructure to simplify and incentivise recycling; co-founder Michel Mokbel said the aim is to "make waste recovery simple and motivating for everyday users."
• Mruna — A UAE climate and infrastructure company developing nature-based circular water systems for built environments.

The programme positions these scale-ups to pilot, commercialise and expand within Dubai's ecosystem. Dubai Holding's accelerator underscores a practical strategy: back a diverse mix of material innovation, circular business models and digital tools to turn waste streams into economic value. Participants will receive mentorship, investor introductions and operational support intended to accelerate deployment across the region.

Looking ahead, the accelerator's success will be measured by measurable reductions in waste and emissions, new circular supply chains and commercial traction for the cohort. If the selected companies can scale the demonstrable outcomes highlighted in their applications — from tonnes of CO2 avoided to extended product lifecycles and diverted waste streams — the programme could offer a replicable model for other cities seeking to embed circularity into urban growth.