China-UAE AgriTech Hub to Pioneer Desert Farming in Al Ain

A new Dh120 million AgriTech hub is set to open in Al Ain as part of a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Silal and China’s Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG). Designed to transform food production in harsh climates, the 100,000-square-metre facility aims to pioneer sustainable farming techniques tailored to the UAE’s arid environment.

The project centres on adapting SVG’s “Shouguang Model”—a smart agriculture system developed in Shandong province—to the desert context. Powered by renewable energy, the facility will feature photovoltaic glass greenhouses, solar-powered structures, and climate-controlled production units growing over a dozen varieties of fruits and vegetables including tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and strawberries.

Precision agriculture and automation will be at the core of operations, with robotic harvesting, smart irrigation, and climate control systems reducing water and fertiliser use by up to 30%. Supporting infrastructure will include energy storage systems, employee accommodation, mushroom cultivation areas, and a visitor centre designed to engage the public with sustainable agriculture practices.

The site will also house high-tech post-harvest systems, including cold storage and automated sorting and logistics services to support both domestic distribution and international exports. This facility expands on a 2024 collaboration between Silal and SVG focused on seed breeding and counter-seasonal crop strategies aimed at boosting efficiency and securing local supply chains.