Reducing food waste: initiatives from Dubai Holding

Tackling food waste has never been more urgent or more important for our future! We recently attended the ne'ma Hospitality Workshop on The UAE Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study at Dusit Thani Dubai on 25th September, exploring innovative ways to combat the growing challenge of #FoodWaste. We gained valuable insights from the ne'ma team on: 🌱 UAE Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study updates 🌱 Effective solutions for reducing food waste in the hospitality sector 🌱 Workshop sessions on Additional Reporting for the Baseline Study 🌍 The ne’ma Food Loss & Waste Baseline Study is a groundbreaking national effort to uncover where and how food is being lost across the #UAE through turning data into action to help cut waste by 50% by 2030. It was inspiring to see firsthand how ne’ma and industry leaders are working together to transform food waste challenges into opportunities for a greener, more circular UAE. John Arnold | Simon Mendonca | Amish Choksey #nema #GreenGoodEcoTech #FoodLoss #Sustainability #ReduceFoodWaste #CompostRevolution #OrganicWaste #WasteManagement

UAE ne’ma partners with Nestlé UAE and House of Pops to reduce food loss and waste, mobilizing the UAE’s private sector for a sustainable food future. https://lnkd.in/g9z5_Nm7 #ne’maUAE #ZeroFoodWaste #SustainableUAE #CircularEconomy #NestleUAE #HouseofPops #GCCBusinessNews House of Pops Nestlé

It was an honour to witness a truly innovative moment for sustainable hospitality this week as Miral and Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island launched the UAE’s first fully automated in-house water bottling plant.   Developed in partnership with sustainable water solutions firm Mywater International, the plant has a production capacity of 2,500 bottles per day; sufficient to meet the hotel’s entire in-room water demand with the potential to serve other properties in the future. This initiative will replace approximately 700,000 single-use plastic bottles and reduce 600–650 tons of CO₂ emissions annually and reflects our shared commitment to eliminating single-use plastics, lowering carbon emissions, and supporting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision. A huge congratulations to everyone involved and for setting a new standard for eco-conscious operations! #WeAreMiral #InAbuDhabi #YasIsland #Sustainability

🇦🇪 ne'ma Partners with Nestlé #UAE and House of Pops to Advance 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 🍽️ Ne’ma (National Food Loss and Waste Initiative) signs two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Nestlé UAE and House of Pops, reinforcing the nation's commitment to 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞. This collaboration is a significant step toward achieving the UAE’s target of cutting food waste by 50% by #2030 ✅ 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The MoUs were signed in the presence of H. E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Ministry of Economy & Tourism, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts to optimize the #FoodEcosystem. ✅ 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞: With these partnerships, the UAE is driving #sustainable practices in both multinational corporations and local SMEs, including food rescue initiatives during Ramadan. ✅ 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲: Nestlé UAE will support the Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study, while House of Pops will lead awareness initiatives focused on engaging #youth and local communities. Khuloud Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation : “𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘺 50%—𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦.” Hassan Atia, General Business Manager at Nestlé UAE: “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘈𝘌’𝘴 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘺.” Mazen Kanaan, CEO of House of Pops : “𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮, 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦.” This partnership is a great example of how collective action can drive positive change, setting the stage for a sustainable, resilient food system in the UAE. Together, we can make a real impact. 💪🌱 Read More | ESG Middle East Insights https://lnkd.in/d9TWzJkG #ESG #EsgMena #EsgMiddleeast #FoodWaste #UAE #NeMa #Innovation #CircularEconomy #PrivateSectorPartnership #FoodSecurity #SustainableFuture #Leadership #FoodSystems

Food security means making sure everyone has access to safe, healthy, and affordable food at all times. In the UAE, this is not easy. Our desert climate, limited water, and dependence on imports make the country highly vulnerable to global supply changes. Nearly 90% of food in the UAE is imported, and with climate change, population growth, and global conflicts, ensuring stable food supply is becoming harder. But the UAE is taking big steps forward, investing in vertical farming, hydroponics, desalination, and smart agriculture to grow more food locally and sustainably.  Every small action matters, from reducing food waste at home to supporting local farms and making sustainable food choices. Together, we can help build a more secure and sustainable food future for our nation. 

Sustainability Isn’t Just a Trend — It’s the Future of Business. Sustainability is more than a trend—it’s the foundation of the future for food and hospitality. Each decision made in our kitchens, dining rooms, and supply chains shapes both the health of our planet and the wellbeing of our communities. #Leading with Sustainable Practices 1.Sourcing ingredients from local suppliers helps lower transportation emissions and promotes regional growers. 2.Designing seasonal menus and tracking waste reduces both resource consumption and food loss. 3.Smart management of energy and water in kitchen operations has a direct effect on environmental impact. 4.Empowering teams to adopt green thinking can foster a workplace culture dedicated to conscious action. 5.Food donation, composting, and waste reduction programs offer real solutions for supporting the community. 6.ESG principles should inform every strategic decision, making responsibility a core part of business identity. #Creating Collective Impact What may seem like small actions—choosing local produce, optimizing water use, minimizing waste—combine to transform our kitchens and workplaces into models of responsible leadership. This not only benefits our businesses; it nourishes both people and the planet we all share. Let’s redefine sustainability from strategy to core identity. Together, we can build a food system in Qatar and beyond that meets today’s needs while protecting the resources of tomorrow. #Sustainability #ESG #FoodSafety #ZeroWaste #GreenHospitality #FoodTech #Qatar #Doha #ResponsibleBusiness #SustainableFuture

Carbon emissions and food waste pose significant challenges. At núaFEEDs, we're tackling both with an innovative Circular Economy solution right here in the UAE. We transform unsold bread from bakeries and retailers into nutritious, high-performance animal feed. This is a new pillar for sustainable farming and agritech in the region. Why this matters for the UAE? Diverting just 1 tonne of surplus bread from landfill achieves an immediate, measurable impact: 500 kg of CO2 emissions avoided 1.3 m3 of water saved Surplus bread becomes a valuable resource, not a burden for the supply chain. We're creating feed that's better for animals, better for the planet, and a crucial step toward achieving the UAE’s food security and net-zero goals. Chava Berrill MAICD

The world’s largest vertical farm, Bustanica, is located in Dubai. This 330,000-square-foot, high-tech indoor facility near Al Maktoum International Airport produces over one million kilograms of pesticide-free leafy greens each year. Using 95% less water than conventional farming, its state-of-the-art, environmentally controlled system sets global benchmarks for sustainability, water efficiency, and food safety.

Food Tech Valley and Al Ain Farms Group have signed an agreement at the Future Food Forum 2025 to establish a 260,000 sq.ft. logistics hub in Dubai. The hub will streamline operations to ensure faster, fresher, and more reliable deliveries, while reducing fleet emissions by up to 35%. Beyond efficiency, this milestone reflects our commitment to: •⁠ ⁠Strengthening the UAE’s food security •⁠ ⁠Supporting the national economy and talent growth •⁠ ⁠Driving progress towards the Net Zero 2050 vision Together, we’re shaping a smarter, more sustainable food ecosystem for the future. #FoodTechValley #FTV #Wasl #AlAinFarms #FutureFoodForum2025