Abu Dhabi stands at the forefront of the MENA region’s economic growth, boasting a 9.3% growth rate in 2022. Looking ahead, the emirate’s ambitious roadmap, the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, charts a course for economic transformation. A key goal of the roadmap is to substantially reduce reliance on hydrocarbons, with a target of achieving 64% of GDP from non-hydrocarbons sectors by 2030. Th
Interview:Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri In what ways are public-private partnerships able to influence innovation and technology adoption within the agriculture sector? SAEED AL BAHRI SALEM AL AMERI: Innovation serves as the linchpin for industrial success, and the combination of public governance and private sector dynamism provides the optimal setting for advancements in this area. Such collaboration…
Abu Dhabi comprises around 84% of the UAE’s landmass, making the emirate integral to national agricultural output and food security. The UAE has been working to strengthen its agriculture sector for a number of years, and the socio-economic stresses brought upon by the Covid-19 pandemic have served to reinforce the country’s resolve in that respect. Multiple initiatives are under way in Abu Dhabi…
Abu Dhabi, occupying 84% of the UAE’s landmass, plays a crucial role in agriculture and food security. The emirate is investing significantly in strengthening supply and value chains to enhance food-production systems and meet the population’s nutritional needs. The Covid-19 pandemic and global geopolitical tensions have prompted a re-evaluation of food security strategies, emphasising localised…
Food production in the GCC has long faced obstacles ranging from water scarcity to a lack of arable soil – factors that are being exacerbated by climate change. Prior to Covid-19, imports accounted for 85% of the region’s collective food needs. However, the disruption to global supply chains precipitated by the pandemic – as well as the more recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia – has underlined…
New steps are being taken to enhance domestic agricultural production and food security in Abu Dhabi through innovative practices. Technology, and research and development (R&D) will be key to expanding the agriculture sector and making it more resilient and sustainable. With a rising global population, accelerating food demand, scarcity of agricultural land and a growing need for rapid…
Following GDP growth of 1.5% in 2019, a shift to a more expansionary fiscal stance in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and associated global economic downturn in the first half of 2020 has helped Abu Dhabi establish a springboard for continued growth moving forwards. While public spending and investment remain important drivers of economic expansion, a major overhaul of the investment framework a
As a globally strategic industry, agriculture is a key target for expansion, modernisation and diversification in the emirate. Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 aims for the non-oil sector to make up 64% of the economy by 2030. Food and agriculture have an important part to play in achieving this and represent vast potential for growth into new areas. In spite of the emirate’s dry desert conditions…
Global food demand is expected to increase by anywhere between 59% and 98% by 2050. However, global freshwater resources are already overstretched due to climate change and soaring population growth, and it is unclear how agricultural production will keep up with these challenges. In recent years climate-induced water shortages in urban areas have brought water scarcity to the forefront of…
Interview:Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri How does the newly restructured ADAFSA plan to achieve its long-term goals for the local industry? SAEED AL BAHRI SALEM AL AMERI: The restructured ADAFSA will help achieve Abu Dhabi’s long-term goals of food security, food safety and biosecurity through the development of policies and strategies aimed at sustainable food and agriculture. These strategies…