In a continued push toward national sustainability goals, ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative- announced its return as the Food Waste Reduction Partner for the 2026 edition of Taste of Dubai. Collaborating with the Dubai edition of Taste is aimed at integrating responsible food management into the fabric of the UAE’s large-scale public events. The festival is set to take over the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre from February 6–8, where it expects to draw an audience of over 25,000 culinary enthusiasts.
Since ne’ma’s initial participation in the Taste festivals in 2024, collaborations across Taste of Abu Dhabi and Taste of Dubai have contributed to the diversion of more than 1,820 kilograms of food waste from landfill, prevented over 4,600 kilograms of CO₂e emissions, and produced 275 kilograms of compost to support local agriculture. These outcomes demonstrate how structured food waste management at public events can deliver measurable environmental impact while engaging large and diverse audiences.
At Taste of Dubai 2026, ne’ma’s involvement is guided by its Climate-Conscious UAE Zero Food Waste Events Guide, published in 2024 as a practical, public resource for event organizers. The guide outlines key pillars for food-waste-conscious events, including effective waste segregation and disposal, composting, and guest education. At the festival, this will be reflected through clearly marked customer-facing bins, on-ground nudges that encourage responsible behavior, and ne’ma recipe cards that show how leftovers from live cooking demonstrations can be re-purposed into new meals. Together, these behavioral and data-driven measures support the sustainable management of food operations on-site to ensure that food waste collected during the event is diverted from landfill.
Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and ne’ma Steering Committee Secretary-General, said: “Our collaboration with Taste of Dubai reflects the value of working with platforms that are inherently built for public engagement and participation. By maintaining a consistent presence at major public events, ne’ma can turn national goals into lived, everyday experiences and invite the public to be active participants in this effort.”
“With 2026 designated as the Year of the Family, there is a renewed focus on the spaces where families come together, share experiences, and build everyday habits. Events like Taste of Dubai offer a meaningful opportunity to show that enjoyment and responsibility can go hand in hand. By raising awareness and demonstrating practical approaches, we can make food waste reduction achievable and part of everyday life.”
ne’ma reinforces the importance of consistency in advancing food waste reduction across the events and hospitality sector by returning to Taste of Dubai. Sustained engagement at large public festivals enables practical solutions to be embedded over time, supports alignment with national priorities, and helps normalize responsible food practices among diverse audiences.
Vicki Burn, Taste of Dubai Event Director, said, “Taste of Dubai Festival has always been about bringing people together in celebration of great food, and we recognize the responsibility that comes with that. In partnering with ne’ma again for the 2026 edition, we are able to take practical steps to manage and reduce our food waste while continuing to celebrate creativity, quality, and craftsmanship across the festival. It is about embedding responsible practices into how we operate and using the shared experience of the festival to build greater understanding of food waste across our guests, chefs, and partners.”
Through advocacy, strategic partnerships, and community engagement, ne’ma continues to drive a nationwide movement to reduce food loss and waste. This work supports the UAE’s Food Security Strategy 2051 and Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve food loss and waste by 2030 and transform the UAE into a nation where no food is wasted.
