HIIBA, a peer-to-peer reuse platform, has launched in the UAE on World Environment Day, aiming to facilitate the free exchange of unwanted household items and contribute to waste reduction efforts across the country.
The app enables residents to give away items they no longer need, including household goods, electronics, toys, sports equipment and other everyday products, allowing other users to collect and reuse them at no cost. The platform is intended to help extend product lifecycles and divert usable goods from landfill.
The launch comes amid growing attention on resource efficiency and circular economy practices in the region. According to data cited by the company, more than 200,000 tonnes of reusable consumer goods are discarded annually in Dubai, while the GCC generates more than 500,000 tonnes of post-consumer waste each year. The figures illustrate the scale of resource loss associated with premature disposal and the potential for reuse initiatives to support circular economy and waste prevention strategies.
Unlike conventional classified marketplaces, HIIBA focuses exclusively on free redistribution. Users can list items, arrange collections within their communities and receive Eco Reward (ERW) points for participating in reuse activities.
HIIBA focuses on extending product lifecycles aligns with broader efforts to reduce material consumption across value chains. By facilitating the redistribution of existing goods, reuse initiatives can help curb demand for newly manufactured products and the primary packaging required to bring them to market. The approach reflects a growing emphasis within the circular economy on waste prevention and resource efficiency, alongside advances in recyclable and reusable packaging systems.
The platform has been developed for the UAE’s highly mobile population, where relocations, household upgrades and changing consumption patterns often result in large quantities of reusable post-consumer products being discarded. The company said it plans to work with universities, community groups, NGOs and residential developments to encourage wider participation in reuse initiatives.
HIIBA’s rollout will initially focus on building local reuse networks across the UAE before expanding into other GCC markets, supporting broader efforts to keep products and materials in circulation for longer and reduce pressure on waste management systems.