Wheat is a crucial cereal crop globally, contributing significantly to protein and calorie intake in human diets. Drought stress, caused by changing rainfall patterns, increased atmospheric CO₂ levels, rising temperatures, and hot, dry winds, has become a major abiotic stress affecting wheat production. This review examines the effects of drought stress on wheat, including morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes, as well as the mechanisms of drought tolerance and management strategies. **Morphological Effects:** Drought stress reduces germination and seedling vigor, increases root-shoot ratio, and promotes early leaf senescence and maturity. It also affects plant height, tillers per plant, spikelets per meter square, spike length, and grain yield components. **Physiological Effects:** Drought stress disrupts various physiological activities, such as nutrient assimilation, photosynthesis, and enzyme function. It reduces chlorophyll content, osmotic potential, and leaf transpiration rate, leading to decreased growth and productivity. **Biochemical Effects:** Drought stress increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative damage. It also leads to decreased starch accumulation, increased abscisic acid (ABA) production, and the accumulation of proline and other osmoprotectants. **Tolerance Mechanisms:** Wheat plants develop drought tolerance through escape, avoidance, and tolerance mechanisms. Morphological tolerance includes deep root systems, leaf waxiness, and trichome density. Physiological tolerance involves osmotic adjustment, ABA accumulation, and stomatal closure. Biochemical tolerance is supported by the accumulation of metabolites like glycine, betaine, and proline. **Management Strategies:** Genetic management involves selecting drought-tolerant genotypes through traditional breeding and modern techniques such as genetic engineering and transgenic approaches. Agronomic practices, including crop rotation, irrigation schedules, seed priming, mulching, and nutrient management, are also crucial for managing drought stress. **Conclusion:** Drought stress is a significant challenge for wheat production, leading to yield losses. Understanding and managing these effects through genetic and agronomic approaches are essential for ensuring food security in the face of climate change. Further research is needed to develop drought-tolerant wheat varieties and improve management strategies.Wheat is a crucial cereal crop globally, contributing significantly to protein and calorie intake in human diets. Drought stress, caused by changing rainfall patterns, increased atmospheric CO₂ levels, rising temperatures, and hot, dry winds, has become a major abiotic stress affecting wheat production. This review examines the effects of drought stress on wheat, including morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes, as well as the mechanisms of drought tolerance and management strategies. **Morphological Effects:** Drought stress reduces germination and seedling vigor, increases root-shoot ratio, and promotes early leaf senescence and maturity. It also affects plant height, tillers per plant, spikelets per meter square, spike length, and grain yield components. **Physiological Effects:** Drought stress disrupts various physiological activities, such as nutrient assimilation, photosynthesis, and enzyme function. It reduces chlorophyll content, osmotic potential, and leaf transpiration rate, leading to decreased growth and productivity. **Biochemical Effects:** Drought stress increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative damage. It also leads to decreased starch accumulation, increased abscisic acid (ABA) production, and the accumulation of proline and other osmoprotectants. **Tolerance Mechanisms:** Wheat plants develop drought tolerance through escape, avoidance, and tolerance mechanisms. Morphological tolerance includes deep root systems, leaf waxiness, and trichome density. Physiological tolerance involves osmotic adjustment, ABA accumulation, and stomatal closure. Biochemical tolerance is supported by the accumulation of metabolites like glycine, betaine, and proline. **Management Strategies:** Genetic management involves selecting drought-tolerant genotypes through traditional breeding and modern techniques such as genetic engineering and transgenic approaches. Agronomic practices, including crop rotation, irrigation schedules, seed priming, mulching, and nutrient management, are also crucial for managing drought stress. **Conclusion:** Drought stress is a significant challenge for wheat production, leading to yield losses. Understanding and managing these effects through genetic and agronomic approaches are essential for ensuring food security in the face of climate change. Further research is needed to develop drought-tolerant wheat varieties and improve management strategies.