The UAE is contemplating imposing fines on households with excessive food waste. Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, leading the UAE’s food loss and waste initiative Ne’ma, highlighted the alarming scale of food waste in the Emirates, stating it as a “deeply distressing” global issue. Ne’ma, translating to “blessing”, reports an annual food waste in the UAE of about Dh6 billion ($1.63 billion), with each citizen wasting approximately 224kg of food yearly, nearly twice as much as in Europe and North America.
Al Nuwais, the secretary-general of the national steering committee, believes that charging for waste, similar to utilities like water and electricity, may be the most effective way to foster awareness and reduce waste. She expressed that while immediate fines are not the preferred approach, they are likely inevitable.
Ne’ma, established in March 2022, aims to halve food waste by 2030. This initiative involves coordinating with government agencies, private sector, NGOs, and the public. Al Nuwais attributes part of the excessive waste to the UAE’s culture of hospitality and emphasizes the moral responsibility to address this issue, especially considering global food scarcity.
Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Minister of State for Food Security, echoed these concerns, stressing the significant role of households in waste reduction.
Partnerships, like the one with Emirates Red Crescent, are also underway to redistribute surplus food from restaurants and food outlets to those in need. Ne’ma is focusing on understanding the causes of food waste throughout the supply chain and aims to launch educational programs for the public and businesses. They are exploring various strategies, including encouraging smaller portions in restaurants, to change consumer behavior and reduce the environmental impact of food waste.