MUDHI ALOBTHANI (ABU DHABI) 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marked its 80th anniversary at Abu Dhabi Global Food Week 2025, reaffirming its commitment to advancing food security, innovation, and sustainability through global and regional partnerships. 

The organisation’s participation reflected both its eight decades of impact and its growing collaboration with the UAE, a nation that has placed food security and climate-smart agriculture at the heart of its national development agenda.

UAE a Valued Partner

Dr. Ahmad Mukhtar, FAO Representative ad interim to the UAE, described this year’s participation as a “historic moment” for the organisation. 

“Our goal is to connect global expertise with the UAE’s leadership and vision, demonstrating how innovation, technology, and cooperation can accelerate agrifood transformation,” Dr. Mukhtar told Aletihad.

“The UAE has become one of FAO’s most valued partners – a nation that places food security, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainability at the centre of its development agenda. Through this platform, we aim to showcase our shared commitment to building resilient systems that ensure better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life – leaving no one behind,” Dr. Mukhtar said.

Addressing Root Causes of Food Insecurity

FAO’s participation in the Global Food Week aimed to transform evidence into action. Through technical discussions and policy dialogues, FAO brought global knowledge, data, and practical solutions to help countries address the root causes of food insecurity. 

Dr. Mukhtar emphasised that these exchanges take on particular significance in the UAE, where innovation and sustainability are key national priorities. 

“By engaging in technical discussions and policy dialogues, FAO brings global knowledge, data, and solutions to help countries address the root causes of food insecurity.  

“Through our presence here, we aim to foster collaboration and partnerships that lead to tangible outcomes – advancing resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems across the region.”

This year marked FAO’s second consecutive participation in Abu Dhabi Global Food Week, underscoring its deepening collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) and the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). 

As a Key Strategic Partner, FAO worked closely with both institutions to co-develop the event’s agenda and technical programme, ensuring that sustainability, innovation, and food security remained at the heart of discussions. 

“The Global Food Week connects policy, science, and finance – showing how the UAE’s leadership can inspire regional and international progress in transforming agrifood systems,” Dr. Mukhtar added.

High-level Panels

Throughout the week, FAO led and contributed to several high-level panels and technical sessions addressing shared priorities with the UAE, including climate-smart agriculture, sustainable livestock systems, agricultural investment models, and AI-based supply-demand forecasting. 

A major highlight was the FAO80 Anniversary Celebration, held at ADNEC’s Announcement Stage in collaboration with ADAFSA and the UN system in the UAE. The event brought together senior officials from the UAE government, heads of UN agencies, and regional partners to celebrate eight decades of collective action for food security, innovation, and global solidarity.

FAO experts from Rome, the region, and the UAE also took part in sessions exploring how technology, data, and innovative financing can accelerate agrifood transformation. The UAE’s forward-looking policies and investments in agricultural technology provided a strong foundation for these discussions, offering practical pathways for scaling up climate-resilient and digitally enabled agrifood systems.

Alongside the sessions, FAO’s interactive exhibition booth at ADNEC served as a knowledge hub showcasing the organisation’s mission and impact. Visitors explored multimedia stories, field videos, and data visualisations highlighting FAO’s global work and partnerships with UAE institutions and GCC partners. 

“It was not just an exhibit – it was a visual journey through FAO’s mission, highlighting how local and global cooperation can turn vision into action,” Dr. Mukhtar said.

Strengthening Collaboration

FAO’s engagement in the Global Food Week supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By leading technical discussions and partnering with UAE institutions, FAO is helping accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “Our collaboration with the UAE demonstrates how local innovation can contribute to global goals – bridging the gap between policy and practice,” Dr. Mukhtar explained.

During the event, FAO strengthened collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), ADAFSA, and ADNEC, along with key partners such as the UAE Space Agency, the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), and Silal. These partnerships combine the UAE’s leadership and innovation with FAO’s technical expertise to translate shared visions into concrete action benefiting farmers, consumers, and communities across the region.

Looking ahead, FAO’s partnerships in the UAE will continue through follow-up initiatives focused on climate-smart agriculture, data-driven early warning systems, and preparations for the International Year of Women Farmers 2026, which the UAE has strongly supported. 

Dr. Mukhtar concluded with a powerful message: “Food security is a shared responsibility – and the UAE is leading by example. Through vision, innovation, and partnership, the UAE is showing how nations can shape a more sustainable and equitable food future. FAO stands proudly beside the UAE in this journey – working together to build agrifood systems that protect natural resources, empower people, and create prosperity for all.”