TITLE:
Waste Management in the GCC Countries: A Review of Current Practices, Challenges, and Future Directions
AUTHORS:
Sumaya Y. H. Abbas
KEYWORDS:
GCC Countries, Circular Economy, Integrated Solid Waste Management Approach, Sustainable Development, Waste Management Governance
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
23,
2026
ABSTRACT: Waste Management has become an increasingly important environmental issue in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries due to rapid urbanization, population growth, infrastructure development, and consumption-intensive lifestyles that result in high waste generation rates. This narrative review evaluates municipal solid waste (MSW) management across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and examines waste generation and composition, current management practices, environmental impacts, policy and regulatory responses, and emerging sustainable solutions across the GCC region. The review synthesizes publicly available government reports, national strategies, statistical publications, international institutional reports, and peer-reviewed literature to provide a comparative overview of waste management conditions across the six GCC countries. The findings indicate that high waste generation rates, continued dependence on landfilling, limited source segregation, low and uneven recycling capacity, inadequate management of specific waste streams such as organic, plastic and e-waste, and fragmented policy implementation remain major challenges. Organic and construction-related wastes constitute important components of the regional waste stream, while inappropriate disposal practices may contribute to risks to soil, water, air quality, ecosystems, and human health. GCC countries are increasingly adopting waste-to-energy technologies, recycling initiatives, circular economy approaches, improved waste collection systems, and other technological solutions, although progress varies among countries. The review highlights the need for integrated solid waste management strategies that prioritize waste prevention and reduction, source separation, reuse, recycling, resource recovery, and sustainable treatment technologies, while considering extended producer responsibility. Strengthening governance, increasing investment in green economy and infrastructure, promoting public awareness and participation, and enhancing regional cooperation are identified as key priorities for advancing sustainable waste management and supporting relevant Sustainable Development Goals.