Food security performance MENA 2022, by country

The highest overall food security performance within the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) in 2022 was 75.2 percent in the United Arab Emirates. In comparison, the lowest score was of Syria at 36.3 percent in that year.

MENA food security breakdown

The overall food security performance score is based on four assessment pillars, food availability, affordability, quality and safety, and natural resource and resilience scores. In 2019, Qatar had the best food affordability score exceeding 98 percent, followed by the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the food quality and safety score was highest for Qatar, followed by Israel. The highest food availability score was in Israel, followed by Egypt, and the lowest for Yemen at a score of 29 percent. Turkey had the highest natural resource and resilience score for food at 60 percent in that year. Within the MENA region, food insecurity was found to be positively correlated with the amount of conflict in a country, and the level of rural transformation. Rural transformation includes the maturing of services such as those in the health and education sectors. The development of such sectors improves the standards of living, employment opportunities, and the overall welfare of households which enhances food security.

GCC food industry trends

The consistent growth in the demand for food in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries is caused by the increasing per capita income, persistent population growth, and thriving tourism. There was a noticeable shift in consumer behavior to healthier food choices in recent years due to the increasing health issues caused by the high obesity rates in the region. Saudi Arabia is the largest consumer and producer of food within the Gulf region. The most desired food type in the GCC region in 2016 was cereal, which was the food type with the lowest food sufficiency ratio.