Dubai-based Dulsco Group has expanded its partnership with Emirates-owned Sevens Stadium, appointing Dulsco Environment as the venue’s official waste management partner through to 2027. The agreement extends beyond the annual Emirates Dubai 7s festival to cover year-round waste management operations at the stadium.
The expanded partnership follows several years of collaboration during the Emirates Dubai 7s festival weekend. Between 2022 and 2024, Dulsco Environment delivered waste management services exclusively for the three-day event. In late 2025, the scope of the relationship was broadened, positioning Dulsco Environment as the custodian of waste management across the entire Sevens Stadium site.
The year-round appointment enables a more integrated and consistent approach to sustainability, aligning waste management practices across both large-scale events and daily venue operations.
The impact of the expanded collaboration was reflected in the performance of Emirates Dubai 7s 2025, which recorded the highest landfill diversion rate in the event’s history. Over the three-day festival, a total of 103.5 tonnes of waste was collected, with general compactable waste and mixed recyclables forming the largest waste streams.
Of the total waste generated, 57.05 tonnes were recovered as recyclables, while 32.5 tonnes were diverted to Waste-to-Energy facilities. This resulted in 86% of all waste being diverted away from landfill, marking a significant improvement on previous years.
“Our expanded partnership with Dulsco Environment demonstrates the power of collaboration when working towards sustainability goals,” said Mathew Tait, General Manager of The Sevens Stadium and Festival Director of Emirates Dubai 7s.
“We have identified synergies across operations by coordinating closely with our suppliers, and we’ve made significant strides towards reducing waste for Emirates Dubai 7s. In just two years, we’ve increased the amount of waste diverted from landfill by nearly 20%, supporting the strategic vision of the UAE leadership and Dubai Municipality in fostering environmentally responsible practices.”
Dulsco Environment said the results reflect the benefits of early planning, structured waste segregation and close coordination with facilities management teams throughout the event lifecycle.
“Partnerships are fundamental to turning sustainability ambitions into measurable results,” said Antony Marke, Interim CEO at Dulsco Environment. “Working hand-in-hand with facilities management has enabled us to maximise recycling, minimise landfill use and create operational efficiencies. Together, we are supporting the UAE’s broader sustainability goals and setting new benchmarks for environmental stewardship in event management.”
The most commonly recovered recyclable materials included glass, cardboard (OCC), mixed plastics, PET and aluminium cans. The figures represent a marked improvement compared with previous editions of the event. In 2024, Emirates Dubai 7s generated 78.7 tonnes of waste, with a landfill diversion rate of 78%. In 2023, 95.35 tonnes of waste were collected, with 72.7% diverted from landfill.
Operationally, Dulsco Environment managed waste segregation and disposal across the venue, deploying dedicated bins for general waste, recycling, food and medical waste, alongside refuse collection vehicles and trained on-site teams to oversee collection and segregation across all event areas.
Both organisations said the strengthened partnership reflects a shared commitment to delivering environmentally responsible events, while aligning with wider UAE and Dubai sustainability strategies.
