addressing food waste in dubai

1. Addressing Food waste in Dubai
By: Mahra Salem Mohmmed Albedwawi

2. Overview of the Causes/Effects of Food Waste in
Dubai
In Dubai, there's a big problem with food waste, mainly because of
the booming tourism industry. With millions of visitors pouring in each
year, food services are exploding , especially in hotels and
restaurants. according to stats from the Dubai Department of
Economy and Tourism, the number of overnight visitors hit 12.40
million between January and September 2023
This food waste isn't just bad for the environment; it's also hurting the
economy. When excess food goes to landfills, it contributes to
environmental damage and releases harmful greenhouse gases

3. Suggested Solutions
1. Food Recycling Program:
• Implementing a comprehensive food recycling
program is a promising solution. This involves
converting non-edible food remains into usable
products such as fertilizer or animal feeds.
Studies have demonstrated the feasibility of this
approach, and community-driven initiatives, like
the one in the Sustainable City of Al Qudra
Road, have proven successful. Involving
residents in the collection and recycling process
enhances community engagement and
awareness.

4. Suggested Solutions
2. Donation to UAE Food Bank:
• Establishing a program to collect and donate
edible food remains to the UAE Food Bank is
another effective strategy. By redirecting
surplus but still usable food from hotels and
restaurants to the Food Bank, Dubai can
significantly reduce food waste. The UAE Food
Bank has a successful track record,
distributing over 50 million meals and
establishing partnerships with various entities,
including hotels and restaurants.

5. Conclusion
In conclusion, addressing food waste in Dubai requires a
multifaceted approach that considers the specific
challenges posed by the city's tourism and hospitality
industry. By implementing a food recycling program and
establishing a system to donate edible surplus to the
UAE Food Bank, Dubai can significantly mitigate the
environmental, economic, and social impacts of food
waste. Engaging the community, hotels, and restaurants
in these initiatives ensures long-term sustainability and a
collective commitment to reducing food waste in this
dynamic and globally recognized city.

6. References
1. Alrawabdeh, W. (2021). Seasonal balancing of revenue and demand in hotel industry: the case of Dubai City. Journal of Revenue and Pricing
Management, 1-14.
2. Baig, M. B., Al-Zahrani, K. H., Schneider, F., Straquadine, G. S., & Mourad, M. (2019). Food waste posing a serious threat to sustainability
in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia–A systematic review. Saudi journal of biological sciences, 26(7), 1743-1752.
3. Baig, M. B., Gorski, I., & Neff, R. A. (2019). Understanding and addressing waste of food in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of
Biological Sciences, 26(7), 1633-1648.
4. Department of Economy and Tourism. (2023). Tourism Performance Report January - September 2023. www.dubaitourism.gov.ae.
https://www.dubaitourism.gov.ae/en/research-and-insights/tourism-performance-report-sep-2023
5. Essam, S., Gill, T., & Alders, R. G. (2022). Dubai municipality initiative to reduce food loss. Sustainability, 14(9), 5374.
6. Kumar, A. (2021). Dubai’s Sustainable City launches trial phase of recyling food waste to create compost. www.GulfNews.com.
https://gulfnews.com/uae/dubais-sustainable-city-launches-trial-phase-of-recyling-food-waste-to-create-compost-1.83521227
7. UAE Food Bank. (2023). UAE Food bank distributes more than 50 Million meals since its establishment. https://www.dm.gov.ae/foodbank/