The growth of hydroponics in the GCC
Hydroponics is essentially a soil-less method of growing crops, which uses 90% less water than conventional agriculture. Given the water-scarcity issues in the Middle East, it is clear why hydroponics is a good fit for the region. As Arab nations place increasing emphasis on self-sufficiency, investments in hydroponic farming are increasing.
Suitability to the Middle East
Given that the climate in arid countries is largely unsuitable for crop cultivation, food imports account for 90% of the food consumed in the GCC. The cost of these imports into the region is expected to total $53.1 billion in 2020. Due to this reliance on imports, vulnerabilities exist in terms of market supply shocks and price spikes, such as those experienced during the COVID-19 outbreak.
For this reason, the volume of foreign land acquisitions and domestic hydroponic farms are increasing dramatically. Hydroponic farming is also very appropriate given water scarcity issues. Meanwhile making use of land in and around urban centres means low food miles and a guarantee of fresh produce to the consumer.
Adoption of hydroponics has been significant in the UAE, where over 200 farms now exist. Thanks to these farms, locally grown produce accounted for 20% of total fruit and vegetable sales in the UAE in 2018.

Chaitanya is Regional Director (MENA) and heads Farrelly & Mitchell’s Dubai office, overseeing the UAE and our wider MENA operations. He has over a decade’s worth of business advisory experience, mostly advising clients in MENA food and beverages industries, including agriculture primary processing, dairy, meat, poultry, and various consumer food sectors.
Subcribe today
Stay up to date with the latest agribusiness blog, Insights, and more sent straight to your inbox.
The growth of hydroponics in the GCC
Hydroponics is essentially a soil-less method of growing crops, which uses 90% less water than conventional agriculture. Given the water-scarcity issues in the Middle East, it is clear why hydroponics is a good fit for the region. As Arab nations place increasing emphasis on self-sufficiency, investments in hydroponic farming are increasing.

Suitability to the Middle East
Given that the climate in arid countries is largely unsuitable for crop cultivation, food imports account for 90% of the food consumed in the GCC. The cost of these imports into the region is expected to total $53.1 billion in 2020. Due to this reliance on imports, vulnerabilities exist in terms of market supply shocks and price spikes, such as those experienced during the COVID-19 outbreak.
For this reason, the volume of foreign land acquisitions and domestic hydroponic farms are increasing dramatically. Hydroponic farming is also very appropriate given water scarcity issues. Meanwhile making use of land in and around urban centres means low food miles and a guarantee of fresh produce to the consumer.
Adoption of hydroponics has been significant in the UAE, where over 200 farms now exist. Thanks to these farms, locally grown produce accounted for 20% of total fruit and vegetable sales in the UAE in 2018.

Chaitanya is Regional Director (MENA) and heads Farrelly & Mitchell’s Dubai office, overseeing the UAE and our wider MENA operations. He has over a decade’s worth of business advisory experience, mostly advising clients in MENA food and beverages industries, including agriculture primary processing, dairy, meat, poultry, and various consumer food sectors.
Subcribe today
Stay up to date with the latest agribusiness blog, Insights, and more sent straight to your inbox.
Chaitanya GRK's featured publications
Farrelly & Mitchell advises Al Wazeen on sale to Ornua (Irish Dairy Board)
Farrelly & Mitchell advises Al Wazeen on sale to Ornua (Irish Dairy Board)
Farrelly & Mitchell advises Al Wazeen on sale to Ornua (Irish Dairy Board)
Farrelly & Mitchell advises Al Wazeen on sale to Ornua (Irish Dairy Board)
Farrelly & Mitchell advises Al Wazeen on sale to Ornua (Irish Dairy Board)