UAE launches first national food loss and waste baseline study

Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, chief sustainability officer at Emirates Foundation and Secretary General of the ne’ma Committee/Image: Supplied

ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative – in collaboration with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) and local statistics centers across the Emirates, has launched the data collection phase of the UAE’s first-ever National Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study.

From September 8 to 21, 2025, field teams will conduct household-level food waste measurements nationwide, while businesses registered in the study will submit their own data directly through the ne’ma data hub. This two-week effort marks the first large-scale direct waste composition analysis at the source in the UAE, engaging multiple sectors across the entire food supply chain.

Scientific rigor and national collaboration

The fieldwork is being coordinated by FCSC and local statistics centers to ensure statistical credibility and nationwide representation. Their role covers:

• Validating the national sample size using scientifically sound methodologies.

• Ensuring compliance with UAE survey protocols, quality control, and ethical standards.

• Consolidating local data into a unified federal dataset that will form the foundation of national food loss and waste indices.

FCSC, as the lead authority on national statistics and sustainable development indicators, also oversees UAE reporting on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with international frameworks by FAO and UNEP.

Read: Food waste: Is it a ‘wasted’ opportunity?

“This nationwide fieldwork is an essential step in building a data-driven foundation to measure, monitor, and execute the targeted strategies based on evidence to reduce food loss and waste across the UAE,” said Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, chief sustainability officer at Emirates Foundation and Secretary General of the ne’ma Committee. “The baseline study is collective way to assess the current levels of food loss and waste through a unified approach driven by key ne’ma stakeholders across the UAE representing government, private sector and the public, Through ne’ma’s close collaboration with the FCSC and local statistics partners, we are ensuring that this baseline study is scientifically robust and internationally aligned.”

Turning insights into action

The study aims to capture both the scale and root causes of food loss and waste, covering every stage of the value chain – from production and import, to processing, distribution, retail, and household consumption. Data gathered will:

• Feed into the UAE’s official food loss and waste indices.

• Identify geographic and demographic waste patterns.

• Support evidence-based solutions, awareness campaigns, and systemic interventions.

• Build capacity for regular national reporting, with the study repeating every three years.

“The cooperation between FCSC, ne’ma, and local statistics centers reflects the UAE’s commitment to transforming food loss and waste insights into systematic and effective federal action,” said Hanan Mansour Ahli, managing director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. “Our role is to ensure the highest levels of statistical accuracy and reliability, delivering results that are nationally representative and globally comparable. This approach reinforces the UAE’s position as a global role model in sustainability and reaffirms its dedication to turning the SDGs into tangible achievements that serve the present and safeguard the future.”

The initiative brings together over 25 federal and local entities, including MOCCAE, ADAFSA, Tadweer Group, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority (DECCA), Aldar, and other municipal and statistical authorities.

Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, said: “The UAE Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study is a cornerstone in supporting the National Food Security Strategy 2051 and advancing the UAE’s commitments to the environment and climate, conserving natural resources from waste, and achieving sustainability in its comprehensive sense. As the national custodian for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is committed to raising awareness and enhancing education around sustainable consumption and production patterns. In this context, ne’ma –the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative– plays a pivotal role in reducing food loss and waste, with a special focus on SDG 12.3, which calls for halving per capita food waste by 2030. Through this study, led by the ‘ne’ma’ initiative, we will have the accurate data needed to reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, and accelerate our transition toward a more sustainable, circular economy.”

The final results of the study will be published in the first half of 2026, setting the stage for new initiatives, partnerships, and public engagement campaigns to help achieve the UAE’s 2030 food loss and waste reduction targets.