ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste initiative
ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste initiative aims to cut food loss and waste by half by the year 2030. ne’ma addresses food loss and waste through a systemic and holistic approach, by focusing on key the following enablers and initiatives to achieve its vision:
- Capacity building - develop robust systems for measuring, monitoring, and reporting FLW data in line with international standards
- Community engagement - increase awareness and drive behavioral change through targeted community outreach
- Public-private partnerships - promote collaboration between sectors to implement effective FLW solutions
- Innovation - leverage innovative solutions to drive systemic change and support circular food systems
- Policy leadership - advocate for and support the development of federal and emirate-level FLW mandates, policies and regulations.
Read about the socio-environmental impact of ne’ma.
Useful link:
National Food Security Strategy
Read about the National Food Security Strategy on this platform.
Emirates Council for Food Security
The UAE Cabinet launched the Emirates Council for Food Security (ECSF) to strengthen the efforts of national authorities to achieve food security, as well as for meeting the goals of the National Food Security Strategy.
Members
Minister of State for Food Security chairs the council, membership to which includes representatives from Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Energy and Industry, Ministry of Health and Community Protection, Ministry of Education, and National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management.
Scope of work
The scope of the council’s work includes the following:
- monitoring the implementation of the Food Security Strategy
- suggesting regulations, legislations and policies related to food security
- revising food legislations
- building databases related to food security
- studying food security risks
- submitting periodic reports to the UAE Cabinet on the progress of initiatives and projects, and
- monitoring the Global Food Security Index and related programmes.
Related links from Emirates News Agency (WAM):
- Emirates Council for Food Security discusses ways to support ‘Plant the Emirates’ National Programme
- UAE elected to World Food Programme Executive Board
Aquaculture
Aquaculture is an important part of the UAE’s efforts to strengthen food security. It helps increase local population of fish and other aquatic species, supports the national economy and contributes to the sustainable use of marine resources.
The UAE is developing this sector through research and modern technologies, encouragement of investment, and the development of aquaculture farms and hatcheries. These efforts help meet local demand for fish and support sustainable production.
The UAE is also implementing six key initiatives to develop aquaculture. These include:
- assessing marine aquaculture systems
- studying consumer needs
- developing a biosecurity guide for aquaculture farms
- improving the competitiveness of closed aquaculture systems
- creating a database on seafood consumption, and
- launching the UAE Aquaculture Pulse 2020, which provides information on investment opportunities, production, consumption and ways to develop aquaculture farms and hatcheries in the UAE.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM) (link in Arabic)
Useful links:
- Marine Environment & Fisheries Sustainability – Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
UAE Food Bank
The UAE Food Bank is a charitable organisation, launched in 2017 under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). It is committed to distributing food to those in need while eliminating food waste by collaborating with local authorities as well as local and international charities to create a comprehensive ecosystem to efficiently store, package and distribute excess fresh food from hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. It is the first food bank in the United Arab Emirates.
The Food Bank initiative aims at:
- doubling the number of beneficiaries locally and globally
- doubling local and global partnerships to manage food surplus
- reducing food wastage by 30 per cent by 2027, and
- doubling awareness programmes and community and volunteer participation.
Related links:
- UAE Food Bank, JOOD sign strategic partnership to strengthen sustainable giving initiatives in Dubai – Government of Dubai Media Office
- Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum launches first UAE food bank – UAE Cabinet
Bread for All initiative
Bread for all is an initiative that aims to provide fresh bread and hot meals around the clock through smart machines, free of charge, to those in need.
The devices feature an advanced design with an easy-to-use digital screen, a refrigeration system to keep food fresh, and smart indicators to monitor device status, fill level, and maintenance. A smart ID system has also been adopted for beneficiaries, allowing them to obtain one meal per day, ensuring fairness in distribution.
Devices have been installed next to many mosques in Dubai, with a plan to expand gradually by installing additional units in the next stages to cover more areas.
Donate for Bread for All. You can choose how to donate, through smart donation, bank transfer, or SMS.
Read more
- MBRGCEC launches new phase of 'Bread for All' initiative – Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Food Tech Challenge
The Food Tech Challenge is a global competition that identifies and supports leading early-stage, tech-driven solutions poised to transform food systems in arid, hot, and increasingly challenging environments. The competition has a cash prize pool of USD 2 million and grants to support the development of solutions in the UAE and the Global South.
Related links:
The UAE in the Global Food Security Index
The UAE was ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and 23rd globally on the Global Food Security Index – GFSI 2022.
The annual GFSI records and measures year-on-year changes in the structural factors that affect food security. Factors include food cost, availability, quality and safety, as well as natural resources and resilience across 113 nations.
It is based on 58 indicators that measure the drivers of food security in developing and developed countries.
‘We the UAE 2031’ vision aims to position the UAE as one of the top 10 countries in the GFSI.
Related links
National Agriculture Centre
The Cabinet's National ‘Plant the Emirates’ Programme, led to the establishment of the National Agriculture Centre. This is part of the UAE’s efforts to build a sustainable agricultural sector that supports food security by promoting sustainable and climate-smart farming practices. These efforts focus on making better use of agricultural land, improving the quality and competitiveness of locally produced food, adopting innovative technologies and solutions, and developing national talent by providing farmers with the skills, knowledge and best practices needed in agriculture.
As part of its 2025–2030 vision, the National Agriculture Centre aims to increase the number of productive farms by 20 per cent, organic farms by 25 per cent, and the adoption of climate-smart solutions, while reducing agricultural waste.
Read the Cabinet Resolution No.118 of 2024 Regarding the National Agriculture Centre.
Law to regulate strategic stock of food commodities
Federal Law No. 3 of 2020 Regarding the Regulation of the Strategic Stock of Food Commodities aims to organise food supplies in the event of crises, emergencies and disasters, and achieve food sustainability. The provisions of the law apply to suppliers and the registered merchants.
The law specifies establishing a record of registration and classification of suppliers and merchants. It obliges registered merchants to manage the strategic stock of food commodities and warehouse by specifying the location, area and size of the store designated for the food commodities provided that the warehouse is in the country.
The law specifies various penalties that include a fine of no less than AED 500,000 and not more than AED 2,000,000, to registered merchant who violates the obligations outlined in this law.
Emirates Sustainable Agriculture label
The Emirates Sustainable Agriculture label is a national emblem. This is given to facilities that meet the administrative, economic, social and environmental standards of sustainable agriculture. The label is granted for three years and targets facilities that produce crops, handle livestock or practise aquaculture. MoIAT's Conformity Sector manages granting the conformity certificates for the label.
Updated on:
26 Aug 2026
