The Water–Energy–Food–Environment (WEFE) Nexus has emerged as a critical framework for the integrated analysis and sustainable management of natural resources. This study aims to address the central research question: What are the key challenges and requirements shaping the interlinkages among water, energy, food, and the environment, and how can the resulting lessons inform the management of natural resource crises in the Middle East?
The research method was a structured review of existing studies and scientific sources related to Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, and 15. Findings indicate that:
• In the water sector, integrated and multi-objective water resource planning constitutes a fundamental requirement, while the accelerating depletion of water resources represents a major challenge.
• In the energy sector, demand-side management- rather than a sole focus on expanding supply- emerges as a core requirement, alongside challenges linked to political economy dynamics, shifting priorities, and environmental uncertainties.
• In the land and ecosystem domain, sustainable land-use strategies are essential, yet are hindered by model complexity, stakeholder conflicts, and the impacts of human activities.
The analysis suggests that implementing the WEFE Nexus through integrated, participatory, and data-driven approaches can serve as an effective pathway for strengthening natural resource governance and enhancing the resilience of Middle Eastern countries in the face of resource scarcity and climate change. A comparative study between Iran and Jordan in this area also shows that the sustainability of nexus depends, above all, on reforming the governance structure and strengthening data-driven infrastructure.