Food security remains a critical concern in the Middle East, mainly due to challenges such as water scarcity, limited cultivable land, regional conflicts, and a strong dependence on imports. These factors expose the population to risks from global market volatility and disruptions in supply chains. In response, governments across the region are intensifying efforts to enhance food security by investing in advanced technologies and sustainable farming practices, alongside policy measures aimed at boosting local production. With national targets focused on increasing regional output and advancing strategic partnerships to support the development of indoor farming, universities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are proactively driving the adoption of climate-smart agriculture across the region.
Today, research at universities is increasingly transitioning from laboratory experiments to pilot farms and urban agriculture projects that align with national food security objectives. Efforts include drought-resilient crop trials, saline irrigation research, water-use optimisation, and seed-bank and germplasm studies, along with farmer training programmes run jointly by university extension services and government authorities.
To decrease labour bottlenecks and improve yield predictability, universities are creating robotics for labour-intensive crops – including date palm harvesting, precision pollination, and autonomous monitoring. KAUST has been working on a new robotic system that will automate the harvesting of date palms. The system seeks to revolutionise the agricultural sector and establish Saudi Arabia as a pioneer in agricultural innovation. [1]
Additionally, universities are presenting smart agritech and vertical farming solutions at national conferences and events, which is a sign of ongoing commercialisation pipelines. The Khalifa University AgX, a division of FSTC, is actively working to address challenges related to seed availability and greenhouse integration, commercialise new agricultural products suitable for harsh environments, and accelerate innovation cycles in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). The University further showcased a wide range of sustainable and smart agriculture technologies, vertical farming solutions, and plant-based biomedical innovations at the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2025. [2]
Notably, the vertical farming market in the Middle East and Africa is forecast to reach USD 4,821.8 million by 2033, with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 23.9 per cent between 2025 and 2033.[3] Vertical farms in controlled indoor environments are promoted as a sustainable way to grow fruits and vegetables closer to their consumption points while using less water. The U.S.-based vertical farming company Plenty has announced a USD 680 million joint venture with Mawarid, a subsidiary of Alpha Dhabi Holding, to establish a network of indoor farms across the Middle East, according to reports from Reuters.[4] Over the next five years, this joint venture intends to construct five farms in the region with the goal of producing more than 4.5 million pounds of premium strawberries per year for both domestic consumption and export to Gulf Cooperation Council member nations.
Gulfood 2026, scheduled for January 26 to 30, 2026, across the Dubai World Trade Centre and the new Dubai Exhibition Centre, will serve as a pivotal platform to showcase these university-led innovations. With its expanded format, including dedicated tech and startup verticals and national pavilions, the event offers a prime opportunity for universities, spinouts, and incubators to position their prototypes into the commercial spotlight, engage with regional buyers, and attract industrial partners and investment. As a launchpad for strategic partnerships, pilot programmes, and scale-up initiatives, Gulfood 2026 is poised to speed up the transition from campus R&D to market-ready solutions.
To register and for more information visit Gulfood.com.
[1] – https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/news/kaust-developing-robotic-system-to-improve-date-palm-harvesting
[3] – https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/vertical-farming-market/mea
