The UAE’s approach to creating technological advantages out of food security

The UAE plans to employ vertical farms and AI to reduce its dependency on imported food.

The problem of securing food in the region over the years has largely been approached from a logistics perspective. Countries around the world with no fertile land and severe weather conditions have depended heavily on imports. This meant that ensuring a stable food supply chain became crucial for their survival. This also holds true for the UAE, where more than 90% of food has to be imported.

However, rather than attempting to emulate farming systems unsuitable for such an environment, the United Arab Emirates has taken an entirely different path. The country is determined to embrace the challenge of becoming an experimental ground for controlled-environment agriculture, where food production depends more on engineering and technology than on rainfall and fertile soil.

This trend is not limited to agriculture alone; it is also strategic in nature. Food security in the United Arab Emirates is now increasingly viewed through the lens of technological resilience.

The UAE does not intend to replicate conventional farming models perfected in temperate climates. Instead, it seeks to reengineer the concept of agriculture under environmental constraints and, in the process, develop models that can eventually be exported elsewhere.

Agriculture without seasons

Among the clearest signs of this shift is the rapid proliferation of vertical farms and hydroponics. Such systems make it possible to cultivate crops indoors under fully controlled conditions, where temperature, moisture levels, lighting, fertilisation, and even airflow are managed through intelligent systems.

The implication is that farming no longer depends on seasons or external climatic conditions. It can be carried out year-round, including during the intense summer months when traditional farming is nearly impossible.

One company in Dubai that exemplifies this agricultural trend is Greeneration, an indoor farming enterprise. The company has increased its production of edible flowers, microgreens, rare herbs, and specialty leaves for hotels and restaurants across the UAE through hydroponics.

Its products include popular and well-known ingredients such as Shiso Green, Lemon Verbena, Huacatay, and Oxalis leaves — items that have traditionally been sourced from overseas locations including Japan, Peru, and Europe. The organisation aims to reduce reliance on such foreign imports by cultivating these ingredients locally within the UAE.

“Not only is freshness important, but proximity and consistency are equally vital,” according to Roman Ulyanov, founder and managing partner of Greeneration.

“The reason behind this venture is that these crops hold important cultural significance in the culinary traditions of different parts of the world,” he said. “Our aim was to produce these items closer to home and with better quality.”

It is important to recognise that such initiatives go far beyond premium dining. Vertical agriculture enables food production to take place closer to urban centres, thereby reducing transportation costs, losses during transit, and dependence on imports. In sectors where timing is critical — such as hospitality and fine dining — localisation becomes essential.

Greeneration now cultivates more than 70 types of produce with the help of hydroponics, controlled lighting, and climate-regulated systems. According to the company, its infrastructure can support distribution to more than 1,000 restaurants across the United Arab Emirates without compromising same-day harvesting and rapid delivery cycles.

Most importantly, these farms consume significantly less water than conventional farming methods, a crucial factor in one of the world’s most water-scarce regions.

Constraint as a catalyst

What distinguishes the UAE’s agricultural approach is that environmental limitations themselves have become the foundation for innovation. Countries blessed with abundant agricultural land often advance farming gradually over time. The UAE does not have that luxury; environmental constraints compel it to rethink production entirely.

As a result, technologies once viewed as experimental are now becoming commercially viable. These include hydroponic cultivation, vertical farming, artificial intelligence-driven climate control, sensor-based nutrient monitoring, automated irrigation, and Internet of Things-enabled environmental systems.

The recently launched UNS Vertical Farms project in Al Ain demonstrates how rapidly such facilities are evolving. Developed by the UAE’s Speedex Group, the project includes a 10,000-square-metre tomato farm expected to produce 150,000 kilograms of tomatoes annually through controlled-environment agricultural technologies.

“We aim to make our food ecosystem secure and resilient against future supply-chain shocks through this project, which supports the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy,” said Mehlam Murtaza, Director of UNS Vertical Farms.

These systems rely on hydroponic farming supported by AI and data science, helping regulate parameters such as air humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, and light exposure.

Such advanced systems allow farms to maximise output while minimising resource consumption. According to the company, water usage can be reduced by as much as 90% compared to traditional agriculture. These savings are significant not only environmentally but economically as well.

Traditional farming systems depend heavily on climate and other unpredictable variables. Controlled-environment agriculture reduces such variability, enabling farmers to maintain consistent crop production regardless of seasonal changes.

Weather fluctuations, uncertain water availability, and varying crop quality are common challenges in conventional farming. Controlled-environment systems help reduce these uncertainties, creating predictable production models capable of operating throughout the year.

Predictability also offers economic advantages for retailers. Fresher products can reach shelves within 24 to 48 hours of harvest, thereby reducing waste throughout the supply chain. This explains why the UAE’s food policy is becoming increasingly integrated with logistics and technological infrastructure.

Support from policy and national strategy

There is clear support through policy and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the UAE’s food ecosystem. For example, the National Food Security Strategy 2051 emphasises modern agricultural practices, research and development, and supply-chain resilience to reduce dependency on imports.

This transformation is not taking place in isolation. Strong national policy support underpins the emphasis on food security and localised production systems. Investments have also been made in agriculture, food packaging, and logistics infrastructure.

In this regard, collaborations between companies — such as the partnership between Borouge and Al Ain Farms — help create stronger domestic ecosystems through local food packaging and logistics solutions.

Agricultural ambitions in the UAE have evolved beyond merely serving domestic needs. The country is increasingly positioning itself as a centre for innovation in arid-environment agriculture. Controlled-environment agriculture is becoming increasingly important in addressing challenges related to climate change, water scarcity, and declining agricultural productivity.

By adapting intelligently to the limitations imposed by geography, the UAE has moved from being solely a food importer to becoming an innovator in agricultural technology. This positions the country as a compelling example of climate-adaptive agriculture.

According to experts, the UAE has demonstrated that deserts can become laboratories for agricultural innovation.