Abstract

Food security is vital issue for countries worldwide. However, achieving the four domains of food security, availability, access, utilization and stability, proves to be a challenge to nations and countries. Challenges to food security are myriad and include scarcity of natural resources, wars, armed conflicts, level of the economic development of the country, demands resulting from growing numbers of population, volatile food trade globally, and climate change. Though climate change is a global issue, its impacts are regional. Due to their location in an arid, hot region with minimal precipitation levels, very limited freshwater resources and arable lands, agricultural production in GCC countries is limited. Due to these factors combined, the GCC countries are not food self-sufficient and are highly dependent on imports. They are also vulnerable to climate change which adds to already existing challenges. Examination of statistics and Food Security Index show that GCC countries are performing well in the area of availability, but not as well in the area of stability (natural resources and resilience). The paper concludes with recommendations for improving agriculture and for a more sustainable use of water.