Citizen farms, spread across vast areas of the UAE, contribute to the development of sustainable domestic tourism, attracting nature lovers who find in them a charming natural haven. They have also succeeded in cultivating a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and crops that were previously confined to temperate climates.
These farms, with their diverse range of products, have helped establish a sustainable agricultural sector, mobilizing all necessary resources for this purpose, increasing the contribution of agricultural production to the GDP, and reducing dependence on imports.
The total number of farms in the UAE has exceeded 38,000, which employ various farming methods and several production systems.
The UAE places great importance on directing domestic tourism to citizen farms to showcase the successful experiences of entrepreneurs in this sector and the role these projects play in promoting a culture of sustainable interaction with the environment.
The "World's Coolest Winter" campaign, held this year under the slogan "Our Winter is Entrepreneurship," highlights a number of successful agricultural experiences by UAE citizens, which have left a bright mark on the history of sustainable agriculture and domestic tourism.
The UAE attaches great importance to agricultural tourism, as it plays a role in showcasing the treasures of local farms and the prosperity that the UAE possesses in terms of a thriving and developed agricultural area. The campaign also sheds light on leading agricultural projects established and developed by UAE citizens with the support of government bodies. In 2019, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment launched a national project under the slogan "Nature's Treasures in the UAE," which highlights the creativity of local farm owners for their benefit and to understand the practices and expertise they follow, as well as to get acquainted with traditional and modern farming methods, learn about the technologies used, and enjoy the recreational activities available in many plant and animal farms across the country. It also provides visitors with the opportunity to buy the plant and animal products they need directly from the source at an affordable price and high quality, which encourages farmers to develop and expand their activities by creating additional income, as well as stimulating the public to adopt community farming behaviors.
Leading Experiences
One of the leading agricultural experiences in the UAE is the strawberry farm in Al Dhaid city in Sharjah, currently supervised by the General Manager of "Mirak" Company, Issa Khouri, which was established in 1985. It is the first company to cultivate strawberries and one of the first companies established in the agricultural sector.
The company did not stop at producing strawberries, from which it still exports thousands of tons annually to the Gulf countries and around the world, but also ventured into producing many high-value agricultural crops and vegetables that were previously imported from abroad.
Among the leading strawberry farms in the UAE is also the "Model Strawberry Farm in Hatta" by citizen Khalifan Al Mutaiwi, which is a sustainable agricultural destination that attracts investors and tourists.
The Model Strawberry Farm in Hatta was established in 2022 and includes two fields: one open field with 6,000 seedlings and another glass field with a total of 1,870 seedlings. It is distinguished by saving effort, time, water, and preserving the environment, helping sustainable farming with an innovative technique that stems from the purity and beauty of nature.
Visitors to the farm during their tour can enjoy quiet sessions and taste hot and cold drinks with a strawberry flavor, which are prepared fresh at the same time, in addition to the other products the farm offers, including figs and natural juices.
The Model Strawberry Farm is a leading investment idea in the field of green tourism amidst the embrace of the beautiful nature near Hatta Dam, and it represents a milestone in the professional and modern investment of natural resources using the latest agricultural technologies, where families and visitors find a pleasant window to escape the hustle of daily life. It also plays a role in reducing the carbon footprint, minimizing environmental impact, avoiding excessive use of water and energy, and employing technology by adopting advanced agricultural techniques and the latest smart technology means, as well as using greenhouse and hydroponic farming methods to ensure a year-round crop.
Innovation and Renewal
The cocoa farm established by citizen Ahmed Al Hafiti, one of the people of Fujairah, highlights one of the most important agricultural experiences in the UAE, reflecting the ability of the citizen farmer to innovate and renew in the field of agriculture, which contributes to efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in most agricultural products.
The cocoa farm is located in a nursery in Wadi Dafta in Fujairah, where Al Hafiti has successfully grown more than 1,000 cocoa seedlings that were sold out. Additionally, three types of the finest cocoa varieties in the world were imported from Uganda, which will allow for the planting of about 5,000 seedlings in the next season.
The importance of this sustainable agricultural initiative lies in that it does not require expensive shelters or financial expenditures on care through cooling systems, as it was sufficient to place them in a shaded area using an agricultural shade net (rockline). The clay soil of Fujairah and the humid climate have provided an ideal environment for growing cocoa, as young cocoa trees require appropriate shading for growth and maintaining vitality. It is also known that a cocoa seedling grows quickly and becomes ready for sale within two to three months.
Best Local Influencer
Amidst the UAE's support for entrepreneurial talents in various fields, the achievements of Ahmed Al Hafiti in cultivating cocoa and other tropical plants were honored, and he won the "Best Local Influencer in Agriculture" award, presented by the Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award in March 2024.
• 2022: The year the Model Strawberry Farm in Hatta was established. • 38,000 farms in the country use diverse techniques and produce thousands of tons of agricultural crops.
