Basatne Acquires Cartlow to Power Middle East’s Circular Economy Revolution

Editorial Team

Last updated 28-03-2025

3 min

Basatne has acquired Cartlow to enhance sustainable trade and reverse logistics in the Middle East.

Cartlow's proprietary technology has prevented 100,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, enhancing regional impact.

The acquisition completes Basatne’s “fully-integrated, closed-loop eco-system” for circular solutions.

Middle East faces an e-waste crisis, with an opportunity for growth in the recommerce sector.

This aligns with regional goals like the UAE’s net-zero emissions target and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

In a notable move towards sustainability in the Middle East, Basatne, a company specialising in sustainable trade solutions and reverse logistics, has acquired Cartlow, an Emirati firm renowned for its expertise in recommerce and sustainable management of electronic devices. The acquisition looks set to bolster Basatne's influence throughout the region, particularly thanks to Cartlow's unique proprietary technology and well-established market position.

Cartlow has already made headway, recycling over a million electronic devices to date. This has impressively prevented around 100,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions — essentially the equivalent of taking more than 21,000 cars off the road for a whole year. By stretching the lifespan of various products through its closed-loop circular model, the company has reportedly generated over 500 million UAE dirhams in cumulative value, significantly boosting both economic and environmental returns for sustainable commerce.

Ammar Abu Al-Nasr, founder and CEO of Basatne, highlighted the broader strategy behind recent undertakings. Just last year, the company launched ArDroid, a state-of-the-art refurbishment facility in the UAE. ArDroid stood out by adopting the region's first AI-and robotics-powered solution for data erasure and product diagnosis. Abu Al-Nasr stated that with Cartlow's integration, the company could now provide an end-to-end circular solution. “This acquisition completes a fully-integrated, closed-loop eco-system,” he explained, adding that the arrangement facilitates smoother transactions for businesses and consumers, paving the way towards a more scalable, structured circular economy.

The timing of the acquisition comes at a particularly crucial juncture. The Middle East region grapples with a mounting electronic waste crisis, now surpassing three million metric tonnes annually. Interestingly, the UAE itself ranks among the countries producing the highest amounts of e-waste per capita.

Industry forecasts suggest that the local recommerce sector could be valued at over 30 billion US dollars by 2028. This projection opens enormous opportunities for companies such as Basatne and Cartlow to spearhead the region’s shift towards a sustainable and circular economy.

This strategic alignment also complements governmental aspirations like the UAE’s ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative. Both initiatives strongly advocate environmental responsibility, digital innovation, and diversifying economic strategies. Given how keen Arageek readers are on innovation and sustainability, this shift seems right up their street.

With the Emirates emerging as an undeniable hub for sustainable commerce and green technologies, the pooled expertise of Basatne and Cartlow stands to significantly speed up the region’s transition to more responsible consuption patterns. Ultimately, both businesses and everyday consumers alike will be helped in their quest to embrace healthier, more environmentally-conscious trade practices.

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