Dubai has once again been recognized as the world’s cleanest city for the sixth consecutive year, according to the 2026 Global Power City Index (GPCI) by Japan’s Mori Memorial Foundation. The ranking highlights Dubai’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, urban excellence, and quality of life.
Top score in cleanliness
The emirate scored a perfect 100% in the city cleanliness indicator, part of the Environment pillar of the GPCI, outperforming major global cities. This achievement reflects Dubai’s long-term strategy to maintain a clean, healthy, and sustainable urban environment. It also underscores Dubai’s efforts to balance high living standards with its growing global competitiveness.
The GPCI evaluates cities based on six core functions, including environment, economy, and accessibility, using over 70 international indicators. Dubai’s sustained focus on public health, sustainable urban planning, and cleanliness operations has earned it this top rank. The city’s cleanliness standards are managed by Dubai Municipality, which plays a key role in maintaining the city’s aesthetic and environmental quality.
Dubai’s clean city efforts are part of its broader sustainability agenda, including the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2041. The strategy aims to reduce waste generation, divert all waste from landfills, and accelerate the city’s transition to a circular economy. This vision supports the municipality’s commitment to preserving the urban landscape and maintaining high-quality living conditions for residents.
Modern infrastructure supporting cleanliness
The municipality’s work is supported by a modern fleet of 785 vehicles, specialized machinery, and more than 23,300 waste storage and collection units distributed across Dubai. Over 2,800 sanitation engineers and inspectors manage an extensive urban network, including main roads, highways, residential areas, and canals.
Dubai is also pioneering in waste management, with initiatives such as the Circle Dubai program, which promotes recycling and circular economy practices. The city also operates the Warsan Waste-to-Energy Centre, the largest of its kind in the world, along with smart recycling hubs and digital platforms for real-time operational monitoring.
His Excellency 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 partnerships between government entities, the private sector, and the community.”
Dubai’s success in maintaining its status as the world’s cleanest city demonstrates its ongoing dedication to a sustainable, high-quality urban environment.
