"Abu Dhabi Sustainability".. A joint project to accelerate the establishment of the first facility in the Emirates for recycling electric vehicle batteries

ABU DHABI, 15 JANUARY / WAM / The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure announced plans to establish a new company in which it will be a strategic partner alongside Bee’ah Group, the regional leader in the fields of sustainability and innovation, and LoHome Company, the largest producer and recycler of sustainable lithium-ion battery materials in India, in a step that reflects the strategic role of the Ministry in establishing and directing the company and supporting the development of an integrated system for managing electric vehicle batteries in the UAE, in a way that enhances the circular economy and keeps pace with the country’s goals in sustainability and clean energy.

This project comes as an extension of a previous cooperation agreement between Bee’ah and Lohom, with support from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, to introduce advanced technologies for recycling lithium-ion batteries to the country. The facility is scheduled to be established within the Bee’ah Integrated Waste Management Complex in the Al Saja’a area in the Emirate of Sharjah, and to provide it with advanced technologies for recycling electric vehicle batteries and other types of lithium-ion batteries, in a way that supports the country’s circular economy strategy.

The project aims to process about 1,500 tons of batteries during the year 2026, with the operational capacity to double by the third year of operation, thus enhancing the building of sustainable national capabilities in this vital sector.

The partnership was announced on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, within the World Future Energy Summit 2026, as it aims to develop the first large-scale facility in the UAE to recycle electric vehicle batteries and repurpose them for use in “second life” applications.

By linking the project to an integrated digital platform, a clear system will be provided to track lithium batteries from their collection after the end of their operational life, through their sorting and processing, all the way to their recycling or reuse, which will help producers adhere to regulatory requirements, benefit from recovery programs, and actively participate in the circular economy system.

His Excellency Engineer Sherif Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, confirmed that the partnership reflects a clear national trend to localize advanced solutions for managing electric vehicle batteries, through the establishment of a specialized facility that operates according to the highest technical and environmental standards, in a way that enhances the concepts of the circular economy and raises the state’s readiness to keep pace with the rapid growth in this vital sector.

He explained that the project constitutes an essential pillar within the national path to consolidate the UAE’s position as a global market for electric vehicles, in line with the goal of raising the proportion of electric and hybrid vehicles to 50% of the total vehicles by 2050, and that this step supports reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector, contributes to developing local industrial capabilities and creating sustainable economic opportunities, in addition to addressing the challenges of end-of-life batteries within an integrated national system that enhances sustainability and competitiveness in the long term, and supports the flexibility of supply chains for vital materials. For batteries, which consolidates the country’s position as a regional center for clean energy technologies.

For his part, Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO and Vice Chairman of Bee’ah, said: “This project represents a natural extension of our comprehensive circular economy strategy, and embodies how sustainability opens new horizons of value in future industries. By joining forces with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and LoHome, we are proactively addressing the life cycle management of electric vehicle batteries at the end of their lives, and reducing reliance on landfills as demand for electric mobility accelerates. The facility’s strategic location within our leading waste management complex also reinforces Bee’ah’s commitment to By managing emerging waste flows and achieving the goal of “zero waste” in the Emirate of Sharjah.

For his part, Rajat Verma, founder and CEO of LoHome, said: We are proud to expand our cooperation with Bee’ah, and welcome the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to join as a partner in this national initiative. LoHOME’s recycling and repurposing solutions are designed to maximize the remaining life of lithium-ion batteries before extracting vital materials with zero-waste efficiency, not only reducing the carbon footprint, but also ensuring the reintroduction of raw materials into supply chains. We look forward to creating a world-class facility that supports the UAE’s vision of sustainability and accelerates the global transition towards clean energy.

It is noteworthy that the factory will adopt a “full cycle” approach to recycling, starting with repurposing electric vehicle batteries used in “second life” applications such as energy storage systems, then safely disassembling the components for reclamation.

Using Lohom’s patented technology, the facility will recover valuable materials including lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite for reintegration into the circular economy, rather than landfilling or re-importing them from international supply chains.

Studies indicate that prioritizing reuse over recycling significantly contributes to reducing emissions and resource consumption associated with the production and disposal of new batteries.

With the growing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage solutions in the Middle East, the joint project is expected to develop into a regional center for battery life cycle services, enhancing the position of the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE as leaders in the waste-to-value industries.

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