Prospects for the growth of the agricultural sector, topic of 4 sessions in"UAE Agricultural Conference and Exhibition 2026"

Al Ain, April 23, 2026 – Discussions on the second day of the UAE Agricultural Conference and Exhibition 2026 emphasized the importance of strengthening national food industries, developing value-added chains for local products, and stimulating investment in the agricultural sector, in a way that supports the competitiveness of the Emirati product, and consolidates the position of agriculture and food industries as a promising and investment-attracting economic sector.

The second day witnessed four main dialogue sessions, with the participation of a group of senior officials, experts, business leaders and representatives of the private sector, which addressed strategic topics that included the future of investment in agriculture and food industries, strengthening industries based on local products, food innovation, and the prospects for developing the bee and honey sector within the value-added system.

The second day’s discussions came in the context of the vision presented by the UAE Agricultural Conference and Exhibition 2026, which is organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment under the slogan “A comprehensive Emirati agricultural platform… towards societal sustainability and global innovation,” by opening the way for a qualitative dialogue linking agricultural production, food processing, investment opportunities, and innovation, within the framework of a vision aimed at building a more integrated, sustainable, and growth-capable food system.

Sheikh Engineer Salem bin Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and Chairman of ANHP Group, stressed in his keynote speech that the bee sector represents an important pillar in the food industries, as it produces components of high economic value that enter into various food and health industries. He pointed out that the role of bees is not limited to the production of honey, but rather constitutes an active element in a promising food and economic system.

He said that the global demand for natural honey is witnessing continuous growth, which opens the way for the UAE to build an integrated national industry in honey and its derivatives under the slogan “Made in the Emirates,” calling on young people to explore this field and benefit from its potential.

For his part, His Excellency Dhafer Rashid Al Qasimi, CEO of Sellal Group, announced in his opening speech the opening of applications for financing from the “Agricultural Innovation Fund” affiliated with the Group’s Innovation Oasis, stressing that the farmer represents a pivotal partner in developing the agricultural and food sector, and an essential engine for production, growth and innovation.

He explained that the fund aims to support local farmers by transforming their promising ideas into applied projects that contribute to raising production efficiency and enhancing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, noting that five farmers will be selected annually through a competitive evaluation process, according to which each of them will receive financial support amounting to 200 thousand UAE dirhams, in addition to specialized technical supervision from the experts and engineers of the Innovation Oasis and its partners, ensuring that these ideas are translated into practical results on the ground.

The second day’s program began with a session entitled “The Future of Investment in the Agricultural Sector and Food Industries,” which addressed the future of investment in agriculture and food industries from the perspective of the regulatory environment and economic opportunities, while reviewing the role of the private sector in developing value chains and transforming agriculture and food industries into an attractive and sustainable investment sector.

The session was moderated by His Excellency Marwan Abdullah Al Zaabi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Regions Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and participated in by His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, His Excellency Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, His Excellency Dr. Khalifa Musabah Al Tunaiji, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in Sharjah and CEO of the “Iktva” Foundation, and His Excellency Dhafer Rashid Al Qasimi, CEO of Sellal Group.

His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi stressed the importance of consolidating and developing economic thought among farmers, enabling them to develop their production and marketing paths in a more efficient and sustainable manner, noting the high percentage of farmers who are now marketing their products themselves, and working to build their own production and marketing systems. He explained that studies indicate that adopting agricultural and industrial thought contributes to raising the added value by a rate ranging between 20% and 25%, in addition to reducing waste rates, which in some cases may reach 40%.

For his part, His Excellency Abdullah Al Saleh stressed that investment in the agricultural sector represents a promising opportunity, pointing out that the success of any project in this field requires proper planning, the preparation of an accurate feasibility study, and a clear understanding of market needs, in addition to improving the product, studying production costs, and searching for the best technologies that support the production process.

His Excellency pointed out the necessity of keeping pace with the rapid developments in the field of agricultural technologies, because of their pivotal role in reducing food waste, raising the efficiency of production processes, and enhancing the use of low-emission and environmentally friendly solutions, which contribute to doubling the productivity of the square meter of land, water, and energy consumed, in a way that supports increased production and reduced costs.

In turn, His Excellency Dr. Khalifa Musabah Al Tunaiji stressed the importance of employing modern technologies and innovation in producing crops that are compatible with the local environment of the UAE, which contributes to rationalizing water consumption and enhancing agricultural sustainability.

The second day also witnessed a session entitled “Strengthening the local food products industry,” which focused on developing local agricultural and animal products and raising their value through food processing, in addition to reviewing successful experiences in strengthening supply chains and the role of the private sector in raising the competitiveness of Emirati products in the regional and global markets.

The session was moderated by Engineer Ahlam Abdel Mohsen Al Mannai from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and was attended by Mohammed Ghanem Al Mansouri, Executive Vice President of Agthia Group, Ali Abdullah Al Jari, Director of the Sharjah Export Development Centre, and Saud Othman Abu Al Shawareb, Executive Vice President of TECOM Group – Industrial Sector.

During the session, participants highlighted the importance of moving from selling primary products to developing advanced food industries capable of maximizing the benefit of local production and creating new opportunities for growth, expansion and export.

The discussions addressed the role of modern supply chains, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution, in raising the efficiency of the local product and enhancing its presence in the markets, in a way that supports the country’s goals in building a more integrated and competitive national food system.

The third session discussed and was entitled “Is food innovation a government choice or an investment opportunity?” The future of food innovation in the country, including alternative proteins, modern plant-based foods, and health products, in addition to researching technologies that support the sustainability of national food protein production and the diversity of its sources, and linking this to global trends in the food industries.

The session was moderated by Engineer Amna Salem Al Ameri from the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, and was attended by His Excellency Dr. Obaid Saif Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development, Edward Hamed, General Manager, CEO and Founder of Switch Foods, and Mazen Al Rifai, CEO of Rawabi Emirates Group.

During the session, participants focused on the growing importance of food innovation as a promising field that combines public policy priorities and investment opportunities, and the potential it provides for developing new food products that respond to consumer changes and challenges related to sustainability and resource efficiency.

The session highlighted the importance of expanding the base of modern food industries, thus enhancing the flexibility of the food system and its ability to keep pace with future transformations.

Within the dialogue sessions, the “Future Trends in the Bee and Honey Sector” session discussed the future prospects of this sector, with a focus on the role of bee products within the food industry system, and ways to enhance the added value of bee products and integrate them into modern food manufacturing chains.

The session was moderated by Engineer Abdullah Al Hashemi from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, during which Mana Ahmed Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hatta Traders, spoke, highlighting the importance of the bee and honey sector as one of the promising sectors related to local production and food industries, and the opportunity it represents to enhance productive diversity, develop value-added products, and open broader horizons for local producers to integrate into modern value chains.

The second day’s sessions reflected the strategic objectives of the UAE Agricultural Conference and Exhibition 2026, by focusing on developing food industries, enhancing the added value of local products, and stimulating investment in agricultural and food value chains, which contributes to supporting the sustainability of national production and raising the competitiveness of Emirati products.

The UAE Agricultural Conference and Exhibition 2026 continues to consolidate its role as a leading national platform to support the development of the agricultural and food sector in the UAE, and to enhance integration between production, manufacturing, investment, and innovation, to serve the country’s goals in food security and sustainability, and to build a more flexible and competitive food economy.

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