Country by country, what the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar require of producers, importers and retailers on e-waste and EPR in 2026.
Introduction
A company selling electronics across the Gulf meets six different answers to the same question: who is responsible for the product when it becomes waste? This is where each state stands in October 2026.
At a glance
| State | Main instrument | Who carries the duty | What it requires | Producer pays? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Waste Management Law, Royal Decree M/3 (2021), Art. 14; Executive Regulation (2022) | Every producer and importer | Extended producer responsibility, detail through MWAN | Yes, charges per producer category to be set by MWAN |
| UAE | Federal Law 12 of 2018; Cabinet Resolution 39 of 2021, Art. 2(2) | Suppliers (anyone supplying products to the State) | Free consumer take-back of e-waste and batteries, monthly report | Yes, all treatment costs |
| Bahrain | Supreme Council for Environment Decision No. 5 of 2021 | Shops selling electronics; e-waste generators | Collection containers in shops, licensed recyclers, import ban | No financing duty |
| Oman | No EPR instrument found; Ministerial Decision 15/2021 on waste exports | Exporters | Export licence for e-waste | No |
| Kuwait | No EPR or e-waste instrument found | No | ||
| Qatar | No EPR or e-waste instrument found | Household e-waste collection service (2026) | No |
Saudi Arabia
The Waste Management Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/3) on 13 August 2021 and in force since late 2021, makes every producer and importer bear extended producer responsibility (Article 14). The National Center for Waste Management (MWAN) regulates the sector, and the Executive Regulation launched on 3 October 2022 contains a chapter on extended producer responsibility and the waste value chain. Penalties reach SAR 30 million and ten years’ imprisonment for dangerous disposal. For electronics, MWAN and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission have agreed to work towards recycling 90% of electronic products by 2040. Detail: Saudi Arabia’s Extended Producer Responsibility.
United Arab Emirates
Since 17 May 2021, Cabinet Resolution No. 39 of 2021 has required suppliers to collect e-waste and battery waste from consumers free of charge through recycling bins in their sales centres, to report monthly to the competent authority and to pay all treatment costs. Abu Dhabi and Dubai each require licensed collectors and recyclers and track the waste through permits or manifests.
A wider national framework covering packaging as well is being prepared. MOCCAE announced it in December 2024 and began a pilot with Tadweer Group in July 2025. Detail: the UAE e-waste take-back duty and UAE Extended Producer Responsibility.
Bahrain
Supreme Council for Environment Decision No. (5) of 2021 on the Management of Electronic and Electrical Waste (issued 12 December 2021, in force from 31 December 2021):
- shops selling electronic and electrical devices must place collection containers to the specification in the decision’s annex and pass the waste to licensed treatment and recycling companies (Article 6)
- collection, transport, treatment and recycling need a licence from the Council (Article 4)
- import or transit of e-waste into Bahrain is prohibited (Article 10), and exports need a licence (Article 11)
- licensed recyclers report periodically (Article 14)
The decision’s “producer” is the entity that generates e-waste, not the company that placed the product on the market, and it contains no producer financing duty.
Oman
No EPR instrument was found. The Environment Authority licenses waste exports under Ministerial Decision No. 15/2021. Its service catalogue lists export approval for electronic waste at OMR 35 per tonne and for used batteries at OMR 100 per tonne. These are export licence fees, not a producer charge. Reports of a planned ban on e-waste exports had not been confirmed by an Environment Authority decision when this article was written.
Kuwait
No EPR or e-waste instrument was found. The Environment Public Authority’s waste mandate under Environment Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 covers municipal, medical, liquid and hazardous waste through a national integrated waste programme.
Qatar
No EPR or e-waste instrument was found. In May 2026 the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change launched an online service for the collection and safe disposal of household e-waste. It places no duty on producers.
Across the GCC
There is no GCC-wide EPR or e-waste rule and no GSO standard on waste electrical and electronic equipment. No state has announced an eco-levy.
On cross-border movement, all six states are parties to the Basel Convention, and Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar have also ratified the Basel Ban Amendment, which restricts hazardous waste exports. The UAE has not ratified it.
How ESGweise helps
ESGweise helps producers, importers and retailers across the GCC map their e-waste and EPR obligations by country, set up collection, licensed recycling and reporting, and bring the data into sustainability reporting and ISO 14001 environmental management systems.
Sources
- Saudi Arabia: Waste Management Law, Royal Decree No. (M/3) of 5/1/1443H, laws.boe.gov.sa; Saudi Press Agency, launch of the Executive Regulation, 3 October 2022; CST, MoU with MWAN at LEAP25, February 2025
- UAE: Federal Law No. (12) of 2018 and Cabinet Resolution No. (39) of 2021, uaelegislation.gov.ae; WAM, MOCCAE and Tadweer Group pilot, 3 July 2025
- Bahrain: Supreme Council for Environment Decision No. (5) of 2021, Official Gazette No. 3574, 30 December 2021, sce.gov.bh
- Oman: Environment Authority, Approval to Export Non-Hazardous Waste, service catalogue, ea.gov.om (read 23 October 2026)
- Kuwait: Environment Public Authority, Waste, epa.gov.kw (read 23 October 2026)
- Qatar: QNA via Gulf Times, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change e-waste disposal service, 14 May 2026
- Basel Convention Secretariat, Parties and Signatories, and Ban Amendment ratifications (read 23 October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Which GCC countries have Extended Producer Responsibility laws?
Saudi Arabia has EPR in primary law (Waste Management Law 2021, Article 14). The UAE has a statutory supplier take-back duty for e-waste and batteries (Cabinet Resolution 39 of 2021) and is piloting a wider framework. Bahrain has an e-waste decision with retailer collection containers but no producer financing. No EPR instrument was found for Oman, Kuwait or Qatar.
Is there a GCC-wide e-waste regulation?
No GCC-wide EPR or e-waste instrument was found, and no GSO standard on waste electrical and electronic equipment or EPR. Each state regulates separately.
Do any GCC countries charge an eco-levy on electronics?
No GCC state had announced an eco-levy as of October 2026. Saudi Arabia's Royal Decree directed the National Center for Waste Management to set charges per producer category; producers should confirm the current charges with it. Oman charges fees for e-waste export licences, which are not an eco-levy.