Saudi Arabia incurs economic losses estimated at about 47 billion riyals annually due to food waste, while each individual wastes about 184 kilograms of food every year. The losses are not limited to the value of food, which exceeds 40 billion riyals, but extend to the loss of about 20% of the water used in its production, equivalent to nearly 7 billion riyals.

About 48% of food waste occurs in homes on ordinary days, rising to 60% during holidays, weddings, and family gatherings. Rice is the most wasted item, with about a third of cooked quantities wasted, along with about 29% of meat. Restaurants, hotels, and retail stores contribute about 17% of total food loss, either during preparation or due to disposal of products still fit for consumption.

Despite the scale of the challenge, Saudi Arabia has made notable progress in reducing food waste, with the rate falling from 33.1% to 27.9% over four years. This has helped save food worth about 6 billion riyals annually, in addition to saving 500 million riyals per year through water conservation programs. Saudi Vision 2030 aims to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by enhancing food management efficiency and promoting a culture of responsible consumption, contributing to resource protection and sustainability.