Dubai has secured a perfect score in city cleanliness for the sixth year running, topping the Global Power City Index (GPCI) released by Japan’s Mori Memorial Foundation — a benchmark that measures urban performance across more than 70 international indicators.
The 100 per cent satisfaction rating under the index’s Environment pillar places Dubai ahead of major cities worldwide, assessed across six core functions: economy, environment, quality of life, research and development, cultural interaction, and accessibility.
Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said: “Dubai’s continued global leadership as the world’s cleanest city reflects a clear vision supported by sustained institutional efforts and strong partnership between government entities, the private sector, and the community. Cleanliness in Dubai is not only an operational outcome but an established urban culture that reflects the awareness, responsibility, and values of society. It contributes directly to enhancing quality of life for individuals and families and reinforces Dubai’s position as one of the most beautiful, sustainable, and liveable cities in the world.”
On the ground, Dubai Municipality operates a round-the-clock cleanliness network staffed by 2,876 sanitation engineers and 280 supervisory personnel, supported by a fleet of 785 vehicles and over 23,300 waste storage and collection units. The system covers 2,400 kilometres of main roads and highways, 1,419 kilometres of investment zones, and 33.4 kilometres of water canals, alongside markets, beaches, industrial zones, and desert areas.
The municipality’s cleanliness framework feeds into the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2041, which targets 100 per cent diversion of waste from landfills and a full transition toward a circular economy. The Warsan Waste-to-Energy Centre — described as the largest of its kind globally — anchors that effort, alongside smart recycling centres and the Clean City Index digital monitoring system.
Residential waste collection and recycling services are further supported through private sector partnerships, with community-facing programmes such as the Circle Dubai initiative driving public participation in waste reduction. The municipality’s performance is also tracked against indicators under the Public Cleanliness Index, which monitors streets and public facilities against international standards set by the Steering Committee for Preserving the Urban Appearance of Dubai.
