UAE: Construction starts on Dubai vertical farm

Project execution has officially commenced on a decarbonized farm in Dubai Food Tech Valley, a master development launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and spearheaded by prominent Dubai property developer Wasl.

Groundbreaking took place at a ceremony attended by H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdulla Aldahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Salman Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Jonathan Reynolds, The British Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Edward Hobart, The British Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Oliver Christian, The British Consul General to Dubai and HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan, Rashed Mohammad, Chief Real Estate Officer of Wasl, Omar Al Maydoor, General Manager Lands Asset Management at Wasl, Ahmed Al Shaibani, Head of Food Tech Valley, Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of ReFarm, Oliver Christof, Chief Executive Officer of ReFarm, and Andrew Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS).

Dubai-based group ReFarm Global (ReFarmTM) and Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) joined to initiate the "GigaFarm" project, which will collocate six complementary technologies, establishing a self-contained closed-loop ecosystem designed to maximize resource efficiency and prevent waste going to landfill. The GigaFarm project is being developed on a 900,000 sq. ft. plot at Food Tech Valley, a UAE-government-led initiative designed to address food security.

The site will begin food production in 2025 and will be capable of growing more than three million kilos of produce annually, using IGS vertical farming technology. In addition, by diverting more than 50,000 tonnes of food waste from landfills each year through integrated waste-to-value and regenerative farming technologies, the GigaFarm will significantly advance the UAE's efforts to decarbonize food production, offsetting 1% of the country's fresh produce imports.

This pioneering project places Dubai Food Tech Valley at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, establishing a new benchmark for innovative, technology-driven, and cost-effective food production in the region.

Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, stated: "The UAE is progressing in presenting a global model of food security based on innovation and strengthening efforts to build sustainable food and agricultural systems that drive development and build a better future for the nation and the world. The 'Food Tech Valley' initiative and its global partnerships supporting modern food and agriculture systems embody this direction."

HE Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Group CEO, Wasl said: "Food Tech Valley is a transformative project designed to build a resilient food ecosystem, decarbonize food production and contribute to global food security. Wasl has been working closely with all stakeholders to pioneer innovation at the project to fulfill this mission – and we are a step closer to making it a success. The project has attracted top agritech minds and companies since it was launched, underlining a shared commitment to safeguard the UAE's food ecosystem for generations to come, as well as becoming a model for other nations to follow."

Andrew Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), commented: "This project is a global first. It's not just a large-scale standalone vertical farm site: our technology has been integrated into the heart of a revolutionary circular system to deliver genuine change to global regenerative food security. Together with the ReFarm team, we would like to extend our gratitude to both the UAE and UK governments for creating a supportive ecosystem that has ultimately enabled this project to move from a concept to breaking ground in less than a year, building on the legacy of COP28. The months ahead promise to be transformational for IGS as we embrace both the challenges and opportunities presented by deploying our tech at GigaFarm scale."