The ne’ma initiative is leading baseline study inform national food waste reduction targets and support F&B sector sustainability
National Food Loss and Waste Initiative ne’ma has launched the UAE’s first National Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study, marking a major step toward the country’s 2030 goal to halve food waste.
Spanning 18 months and involving a representative sample of over 3,000 participants across households, businesses, and public sector entities, the study is the first of its kind in the UAE to measure actual food waste across the entire food value chain.
What is the data for?
The data collected will be used to establish national food loss and waste indices and shape targeted, evidence-based policies and interventions.
Results will be published in the first half of 2026 and used to track the UAE’s progress in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.
The nationwide study is being carried out with the support of strategic partners including the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Tadweer Group, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority (DECCA), and Aldar, alongside local statistics centres and municipalities across all seven Emirates.
A major milestone in the data collection process will occur in September 2025, when a two-week field survey will include actual measurements of household food waste.
Who is involved?
Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and ne’ma Committee Secretary General, said the task of curbing waste had to be a team effort.
“Tackling food loss and waste requires national collaboration, and alignment to create a unified approach and methodology for measuring actual food waste across the supply chain. Through the UAE’s first National Baseline Study, ne’ma is engaging public, private sector, and community members in building an accurate, data-driven picture of where and how food is lost or wasted. This will enable the UAE to track progress against reduction targets.”
“The evidence-based solutions will empower households and businesses to adopt best practices, support systemic solutions across the value chain, and drive the shift toward a more sustainable, circular economy. The Baseline Study supports the UAE in building capacity so that we can achieve the target of halving food loss and waste by 50 percent by 2030,” Al Nuwais explained.
“We are thrilled to see the strong engagement and participation of the private and public sectors in the study.”
Dr. Essam Sharaf Al Hashmi, Director of the Office of Special Studies at ADAFSA, said the initiative would bring together all facets of society.
“In line with its pivotal role in promoting food sustainability, ADAFSA is leading dedicated efforts to highlight the challenges of food loss and waste. In collaboration with ne’ma, we are uniting households, the private sector, and government entities to achieve a shared goal – protecting vital resources and ensuring a more sustainable and resilient future for all.”
Manal Obaid Yaroof, Head of the Executive Team of the UAE Food Bank at Dubai Municipality, emphasised the importance of local leadership on all fronts to drive change.
“Local leadership is essential to achieving national sustainability goals. Dubai Municipality is committed to driving change at the community level, and the UAE Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study provides the knowledge and tools needed to turn ambition into measurable action across all seven Emirates.”
Abdulwahid Jumaa Freish, Executive Director of Communication and Awareness, Tadweer Group, reiterated their commitment to the circular economy.
“Tadweer Group is proud to support ne’ma and the UAE Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study, which unites stakeholders across the food value chain to better understand the scale and impact of food loss and waste. This pioneering initiative complements our commitment to transforming waste into valuable resources and driving circular economy solutions.”
Salwa Al Maflahi, Group Executive Director of Sustainability and Community Outreach at Aldar Properties, shed light on why this group was passionate about being part of the study.
“Since 2023, we have been working closely with Tadweer and ne’ma to build infrastructure and solutions to tackle all forms of waste, including food waste, with a shared ambition to divert 90 percent of waste from landfills. By contributing to the UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study, we are helping to generate critical insights that will empower communities across the UAE to take data-informed action.”
The study’s findings will be shared both nationally and internationally, contributing to global food sustainability efforts and further positioning the UAE as a regional and global leader in sustainable food systems.
