Sparklo and Mai Dubai Join Forces to Expand Smart Recycling Across the UAE

Business

Sparklo and Mai Dubai Join Forces to Expand Smart Recycling Across the UAE

Sparklo, the UAE-based cleantech innovator known for developing the region’s most accessible smart recycling ecosystem, has partnered with Mai Dubai, one of the leading bottled water brands in the UAE, to launch a major initiative aimed at enhancing recycling and promoting sustainable consumer habits across the country.

The strategic agreement will see the deployment of 30 AI-powered Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), known as Sparklomats, in key public areas including schools, retail centers, and residential communities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, and Ras Al Khaimah. These machines allow individuals to return plastic bottles easily and conveniently, while earning Sparklo points that can be redeemed for rewards, including discounts on Mai Dubai deliveries, starting May 2025.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in consumer recycling engagement by incentivizing behavior and facilitating the development of a closed-loop system for Mai Dubai products.

The partnership was formally launched during a signing ceremony at Mai Dubai’s headquarters on April 21, attended by Sparklo CEO Maxim Kaplevich and Mai Dubai CEO Abraham Kah. During the event, Sparklo also unveiled the first-ever Mai Dubai-branded Sparklomat, symbolizing the beginning of this forward-thinking collaboration.

“This partnership fully reflects Sparklo’s mission: to bring every bottle back into the economy by making recycling easy, accessible, and rewarding,” said Maxim Kaplevich, Founder and CEO of Sparklo. “It’s our first collaboration with a bottled water brand that both ensures bottle recovery and rewards consumers — and we are proud it’s happening in the UAE.”

Abraham Kah, CEO of Mai Dubai, added: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do — from running the region’s only 100% solar-powered water facility to supporting circular solutions beyond our operations. With Sparklo, we’re empowering consumers to become active participants in shaping a greener, more sustainable UAE.”

This initiative directly supports the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 and Circular Economy Policy, offering a scalable model for sustainability through innovative technology and business collaboration. Sparklo’s track record is already impressive — with over 90 million plastic and aluminum containers collected across the MENA region, including 81 million within the UAE alone.