Page 11 - AA 2026

Editorial

reusing brine helps minimize marine discharge, signifi- 70%, while aquifer drawdown of up to 5 meters annually
cantly reduces fertilizer costs, and supports the objec- has necessitated a shift to desalination, underscoring the
tives of Sustainable Development Goal Twelve, thereby need to cultivate high-value crops.
creating a positive impact on the fruit and vegetable The United Arab Emirates sets the growth pace at 5.0%
market in the GCC region.
CAGR through 2031. AgTech Park hosts 12 ventures that
Volatile Energy Prices Inflating Controlled-Environ- produce 40 metric tons of greens annually, and Bustanica
ment Costs supplies 3,000 kilograms daily with zero-day inventory.
Retrofitting three desalination plants to produce brine-
Fluctuating energy prices are significantly increas-
ing the operating costs of controlled-environment (CE) derived nutrients reduces fertilizer imports and meets
circular-economy goals. Electricity rate hikes pressured
sectors, including vertical farming and greenhouse ag- margins in 2024, but on-site solar mitigated costs, un-
riculture. High energy consumption, coupled with un- derscoring the resilience of the GCC fruit and vegetable
predictable spikes in electricity and natural gas prices, market.
is raising operational expenses, impacting profitability,
and complicating long-term planning for these energy- Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain account for the re-
intensive industries. In 2024, commercial tariffs in the maining market share. Qatar’s National Food Security
United Arab Emirates increased by 25%, with cooling Strategy 2030 aims to achieve 55% self-sufficiency in
and lighting accounting for up to 40% of greenhouse op- local vegetable production. The strategy also aims to
erating expenses. In Saudi Arabia, peak-hour surcharg- increase agricultural land productivity by 50% to meet
es rose by 15% during the summer of 2025. Controlled- the targeted production levels. Oman has implemented
environment facilities require 150-250 kilowatt-hours extraction quotas to reduce cultivated acreage while ex-
per square meter annually, putting margin pressure on tending the lifespan of aquifers. Kuwait and Bahrain are
operators lacking on-site solar energy solutions. Brent piloting vertical farming techniques that reduce water
crude prices fluctuated between USD 70 and USD 95 per usage by 90% and limit post-harvest losses to below 5%.
barrel in 2025, impacting subsidy levels. These cost in- Intraregional trade remains limited due to overlapping
creases have delayed capacity expansions and shifted agricultural calendars and non-tariff barriers, with India,
focus toward retrofitting, thereby moderating growth in Egypt, and Iran continuing as the primary suppliers.
the GCC fruit and vegetable market.
Recent Industry Developments
High Salinity Drift Clogging Drip Lines
November 2025: The Qatar Ministry of Municipality
Electrical conductivity levels ranging from 4 to 16 de- has launched the 2025/2026 seasonal vegetable mar-
ciSiemens per meter affect 60-80% of cultivated land. In kets, also known as yards for the sale of local agricul-
2025, 40% of drip irrigation systems in the United Arab tural products. Managed by the Agricultural Affairs
Emirates required unscheduled maintenance due to salt Department, this initiative seeks to support local farm-
deposits. Desalinated water continues to contain boron ers by offering direct sales channels to consumers. The
and chloride, which accumulate during high-frequen- seasonal markets are located in Al Khor, Al Thakhira, Al
cy fertigation. Bahrain has mandated soil testing every Wakrah, Al Shamal, and Al Shahaniya.
six months, increasing the significant compliance cost. September 2025: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environ-
While reverse-osmosis pre-treatment and salt-tolerant ment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA) has implemented
rootstocks are available, their adoption remains low, stringent regulations for the packaging and labeling of
limiting growth in certain segments of the GCC fruit and fruits and vegetables in public markets. These measures
vegetable market.
aim to enhance food safety, quality, and sustainability in
Geography Analysis alignment with Vision 2030. The regulations mandate
detailed labels in Arabic, which must include the prod-
Saudi Arabia was the largest geographic segment, ac-
counting for 41.6% of the GCC fruit and vegetable market uct name, net weight, packaging date, country of origin,
and supplier or producer information, such as name,
share in 2025. According to the Ministry of Environment, logo, and registration number.
Water, and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia’s annual date pro-
duction exceeded 1.9 million metric tons in 2023. The June 2025: Fresh Del Monte has launched its Pinkglow
total number of palm trees across all regions increased pineapple in the United Arab Emirates market, available
to 37.1 million, of which approximately 31.8 million are exclusively on Talabat Mart for six months. These spe-
fruit-bearing. Al-Qassim Province led in date production cially cultivated pink-fleshed pineapples are offered in
across all varieties, producing over 578,100 metric tons. limited weekly quantities and delivered in customized
The total number of palm trees in the province, includ- packaging as a premium gift item. Grown in Costa Rica,
ing productive ones, surpassed 10.7 million. Subsidized this rare, sweeter, and less acidic fruit is positioned to
drip irrigation upgrades have reduced water use by redefine the luxury fruit market.
Arab Agriculture 2026 9