You will be able to drop your creations into Abu Dhabi Mall between 22 February and 21 March
The highly anticipated Art of Recycling competition is back for its third edition in Abu Dhabi and submissions are open this weekend, from 22 February to 21 March.
You can now drop your creations into Abu Dhabi Mall (Level 2 between Claire’s and Victoria’s Secret) every Wednesday, 3-5pm, Ramadan, 4-7pm, non-Ramadan, and Saturday, 1-4pm)
This year’s event promises to be bigger, bolder, and more inspiring than ever. And now that the schools are back from winter break, it is the ideal time for students to start collecting their recyclable material and visualise their masterpieces.
The initiative is once again being rolled out by Yalla and Abu Dhabi Mall. Following last year’s success, which saw over 400 remarkable entries, the 2025 edition aims to build on that momentum by encouraging the community to merge creativity with sustainability.
Under the theme, “I love Abu Dhabi, because…” – participants are invited to express their love for the capital through art, with the evergreen caveat of using recyclable materials to craft stunning pieces.
One major change to the competition this year is that the individual students will now receive the vouchers instead of the schools. However any winning schools will be the recipient of a prestigious Art of Recycling plaque.
Get ready to innovate and let your creativity shine. Whether you’re an art pro or just a master of upcycling your cereal boxes, this is your chance to turn waste into wow!
The best part? It’s all about bringing the community together for a greener, cleaner planet. (And you get to see your work displayed in all its glory in Abu Dhabi Mall!).
Promoting sustainability and creativity
At its core, The Art of Recycling has sought to raise awareness about recycling and sustainable practices, while fostering creativity within the community. The goal is to inspire participants – from the youngest to adults to think outside the box and spot beauty in everyday waste.
So, what’s new this year?
This year we have changed them theme to “I love Abu Dhabi, because…”. Participants are tasked with creating artworks that reflect what makes Abu Dhabi special to them. From sculptures to wearable art, entries must incorporate only recyclable materials (listed below).
NOTE: A brief 100-word artist statement explaining the inspiration behind the piece is needed to accompany each submission. The competition is open to six categories, ranging from nursery-aged children to adults and people of determination, ensuring a wide array of voices are heard.
Judging
A professional panel of judges from the arts community in the UAE capital will judge entries based on key criteria such as creativity, effective use of recycled materials, and overall craftsmanship.
More prizes
In each of the six categories, the winner and runners-up will receive some amazing vouchers for Abu Dhabi Mall. As follows: All categories except Adults: Winner AED 2,500, 10 runners up: AED 1,000; Adults: Winner AED 5,000, 5 runners up AED 2,000.
This year the winners will be given the vouchers and the schools a trophy
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Eligibility
The competition is open to the following categories:
- Kindergarten/Nursery
- Primary School
- Secondary School
- Adult (18+)
- People of Determination (Under 12)
- People of Determination (Over 12)
Materials guidelines
Allowed Materials
Paper, including newspapers, magazines, and mixed paper
Cardboard
Glass bottles and jars
PET Plastic bottles
Metal containers, including tin, aluminium and steel cans
Prohibited Materials
Greasy paper, such as oil-soaked paper plates and pizza boxes
Used paper towels, tissues
Broken ceramics, light bulbs and mirrors
Film plastics, such as plastic bags, shrink wrap, and bubble wrap
Plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers
Helium balloons
Plastic cotton buds
Plastic coffee cups and lids
Plastic cups in general
Plastic cutlery
Plastic food containers, usually polystyrene for take-away food
Plastic plates
Styrofoam, otherwise known as expanded polystyrene (EPS)
Hard plastic items
Electronic waste (e-waste)
Construction and demolition (C&D) debris, such as concrete and drywall
Carrier stock; the paper packaging around packs of drink cans
So, what’s next?
Keep your eyes peeled in the coming weeks for further updates about the competition.
For any further information, you can visit yallaabudhabi.ae
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