New venture aims to establish indoor vertical farms, boosting local food production and sustainability in the Gulf region.
Plenty Unlimited Inc. (“Plenty”) and Mawarid Holding Investment (“Mawarid”), a subsidiary of Alpha Dhabi Holding, have announced a strategic partnership to bring locally grown fresh produce to countries across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The collaboration will kick off with an investment exceeding AED500 million (US$130 million) to establish an indoor vertical farm in Abu Dhabi. This facility is expected to produce over 2 million kilograms of strawberries annually.
The new farm, set to be completed by late 2026, marks the first commercial-scale vertical strawberry farm outside North America. This ambitious project is part of a broader plan to develop up to five farms within the next five years, requiring an investment of up to AED2.5 billion (US$680 million) and generating thousands of jobs in the region. The initiative aims to supply the local UAE market and export to other GCC countries, significantly reducing the reliance on air freight and decreasing food miles.
Driscoll’s, a global leader in premium berries and a key partner in this venture, has committed to taking the entire strawberry production of the Abu Dhabi farm. “As part of our strategy to delight berry consumers around the world, we are excited to partner with Plenty and Mawarid on this pioneering project,” said Driscoll’s CEO, Soren Bjorn.
Mawarid’s Group CEO, Kashif Shamsi, emphasized the importance of adopting advanced technologies to bolster the UAE’s food security. “Our global search for a sustainable solution to the challenges we face in the Middle East led us to the incredible team at Plenty,” Shamsi noted. “This joint venture enables us to leverage the most advanced farming technology in the world to grow local food supply throughout the GCC.”
Plenty’s CEO, Arama Kukutai, highlighted the potential of their indoor farming platform to meet year-round consumer demand while building a resilient food security infrastructure. “The Mawarid team’s extensive expertise with agriculture and land management in the Emirates makes them a great partner to meet these dual opportunities,” Kukutai stated.
The UAE’s arid landscape, with 80% desert land and only 0.7% arable land, underscores the necessity of innovative food production methods. The GCC countries, which import over 85% of their food, stand to gain significantly from this local production initiative, enhancing food security and sustainability in the region.
Plenty is renowned for its technology platform that enables year-round cultivation of fresh produce with peak-season quality and up to 350 times more yield per acre compared to conventional farms. Their advanced indoor farming system aims to preserve natural resources and make fresh produce accessible to all communities.
Mawarid Holding Investment, based in Abu Dhabi, focuses on natural resource cultivation and conservation. Their diverse portfolio includes agriculture, forest management, landscape design, and eco-tourism services, among others. Mawarid is committed to minimizing environmental impact through eco-friendly practices and green technologies, addressing critical issues like desertification, water stress, and food security.
