During the coronavirus pandemic, disruptions to global supply chains exposed the United Arab Emirates’ vulnerability to food security issues, posing challenges in maintaining consistent food imports. The UAE government successfully ensured supermarket shelves were stocked by swiftly implementing various safeguarding measures. The UAE has long grappled with ensuring its food security, a challenge made worse by rising food demand due to population growth and environmental factors. Historically, the UAE has approached food-related challenges through the lens of security, prioritizing the protection of this critical resource. The UAE’s commitment to securitizing its food supply is evident through several key initiatives and policies, with the National Food Security Strategy 2051 the cornerstone. Additionally, the country had a designated minister of state for food security from 2017-21 and established the Emirates Council for Food Security. And more recently, Dubai announced a plan to develop the world’s largest food trade logistics hub.

The UAE has achieved high rankings in food security indices. However, these rankings do not fully capture all aspects of the UAE’s food supply challenges, which primarily stem from its lack of food self-sufficiency. Food self-sufficiency – having greater control over food supply and reducing vulnerability to external threats – is crucial, as it allows a country to directly manage and influence its food production and availability. Despite the presence of over 38,000 farms in the UAE, their contribution to its food supply is minimal compared to food imports, which constitute up to 85% of consumption and cost about $13.2 billion in 2022. While this amount is manageable for a country as wealthy as the UAE, this reliance on food imports makes the UAE vulnerable to global food supply shocks caused by climate change, geopolitical tensions, pandemics, and other disruptions. 

Challenges for Food Self-Sufficiency

The UAE has faced a persistent increase in food demand, primarily due to its population growing by 6 million over the past decade and having the world’s highest net migration rate. The UAE’s significant reliance on food imports has enabled it to provide food for its population. However, this dependence also renders the UAE vulnerable to fluctuations in the global food supply, such as from India’s recent rice export ban. Two of the many strategies adopted by the UAE in its pursuit of food self-sufficiency include diversifying food imports and acquiring arable land in foreign countries to cultivate and transport produce back to the UAE.

The UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 focuses on diversifying food imports. However, in a world grappling with increased food demand, this is exceedingly difficult. For instance, in its attempt to diversify cereal imports, the UAE has primarily depended on distant countries, such as Canada and Australia, which are vulnerable to logistics issues, as well as high-risk countries such as Russia and Ukraine, thereby putting its food supply chain at risk. Moreover, while global food demand is on the rise, there is a decreasing number of countries exporting food, making it even harder for the UAE to find new suppliers. And while diversifying imports is essential, it will not fully shield the UAE’s food supply from potential supply shocks.

Since the early 2000s, the UAE has shifted its emphasis from encouraging large-scale domestic agriculture to purchasing land abroad for farming. Through the “food security alliance,” which was established in 2015, the UAE government and Emirati companies have invested in 19 countries. However, this approach poses risks to food self-sufficiency. For example, land investments in countries such as Indonesia and Cambodia have faced challenges, including local opposition and inadequate property rights, limiting their effectiveness. Furthermore, purchasing land from countries facing their own food supply issues, such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Sudan, carries additional risks. Additionally, host states could potentially use these acquisitions as political leverage. While the UAE’s foreign land acquisition policy may bolster its food security and lessen dependence on imports, it will not necessarily enhance food self-sufficiency.

Innovation for Domestic Production

It will not be easy for the UAE to increase domestic production without straining its natural resources, especially its scarce water supply. In 2008, Saudi Arabia had to abandon its food self-sufficiency policy due to the depletion of water resources. Experts agree that conventional and traditional farming methods are neither sufficient nor environmentally feasible for achieving food self-sufficiency in the UAE.

A key objective of the National Food Security Strategy is to increase domestic food production by 30% to 40%, aiming for 50% local production by 2051. To meet these ambitious targets, the UAE has swiftly mobilized generous resources toward prioritizing agricultural technology methods such as vertical farming. This includes investments in agritech, led primarily by government and state-owned enterprises. In 2021, UAE-based entities accounted for 1.1% of global agritech investment capital. Agritech methods enable the UAE to boost domestic food production sustainably, as they are highly water efficient, operate year round, and have minimal environmental impact.

In the UAE, the focus on agritech initiatives largely revolves around indoor vertical farming, leveraging the country’s low electricity costs. However, urban farming has struggled to gain traction. Urban farming encompasses innovative techniques like rooftop farming and hydroponics. It represents the evolution of food and agricultural practices in urban and peri-urban areas, utilizing diverse agritech solutions to enhance efficiency and increase productivity. Furthermore, it promotes awareness about resource conservation practices and enhances green spaces within urban areas. However, for urban farming to thrive, it needs extensive public interest and support, as it relies on residents actively participating by planting and cultivating food in their local areas. To encourage public buy-in and engage UAE residents in contributing to achieving the goals of National Food Strategy 2051, the UAE could offer subsidies for hydroponic systems, grants for urban farming projects, and technical support to help residents start and maintain urban farms.

For now, achieving complete food self-sufficiency in the UAE will remain an aspirational goal due to increasing demand and strained natural resources. However, advancing technologies and implementing effective policies can aid in the UAE’s journey toward food self-sufficiency. Implementing more of these food self-sufficiency policies now will undoubtedly help address the UAE’s food challenges in the long run. As various ongoing factors challenge the resilience of food import-dependent countries, these self-sufficiency policies will be pivotal in ensuring that the UAE eventually achieves full food self-sufficiency and becomes resilient to these challenges.