- Data collection to run from September 8–21, capturing real data from over 3,000 households and businesses across all seven Emirates
- The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre and local statistics centers collaborate with ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative – to deliver a scientifically rigorous, nationally representative study
- Data to inform UAE’s national food loss and waste indices aligned with the National Food Security Strategy 2051 and the global UN SDG targets
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, September 9, 2025 – 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 UAE, has officially 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 across the UAE will collect primary data through household-level food waste measurement, while businesses registered in the Baseline Study, will enter their own food waste information directly through the ne’ma data hub. This two-week national effort represents the first time that direct waste composition analysis at the source is being conducted at this scale in the UAE, with participation from multiple sectors across the entire food supply chain.
A National Collaboration Anchored in Scientific Rigor
The success of the on-the-ground data collection phase across all Emirates made possible through close coordination between FCSC and local statistics centers, who play a central role in ensuring the study’s statistical credibility and national representation. Their involvement ensures:
- Validation of the national sample size, using scientific and statistically sound methodologies.
- Compliance with the UAE’s national survey protocols, including quality control, ethical standards, and fieldwork accuracy.
- Consolidation of local data into a unified federal dataset, forming the basis of the UAE’s national food loss and waste indices.
As the lead federal authority on national statistics and sustainable development indicators, FCSC also leads UAE reporting on the UN SDG agenda, working in alignment with international frameworks developed by FAO and UNEP.
“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.”
Real Data to Drive Behavioral Change
The UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study is designed to capture both the quantitative scale and qualitative causes of food loss and waste – from farms to households. It covers all stages of the value chain: from production and import, to processing, distribution, retail, and finally consumption.
The data gathered will:
- Feed into the development of UAE’s official food loss and food waste indices
- Identify geographic and demographic patterns in waste generation
- Support evidence-based solutions, awareness campaigns, and systemic interventions
- Build capacity for regular national reporting, with the study set to repeat 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 UAE’s first-ever National Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study is the result of a coordinated national effort, bringing together over 25 federal and local government entities, including strategic partners the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), FCSC, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Tadweer Group, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority (DECCA),Aldar, local municipalities and statistic centers.
Her Excellency 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 baseline study will be released during the first half of 2026, setting the stage for new initiatives, guidelines, partnerships, and public engagement strategies that support the UAE’s food loss and waste 2030 reduction targets.
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Notes to Editors:
About ne’ma
ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, is a response to the call to action by the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to reduce food waste, encourage individual and social responsibility, and promote sustainable practices across the food value chain.
Established in 2022, ne’ma aims to address overproduction and overconsumption and build new standards that can contribute to the reduction of food loss and food waste, reconnecting with the country’s deep-rooted traditional values of social responsibility and mindful stewardship of national resources. For more information, please visit: http://www.nema.ae