Armela plans high tech strawberry facility as UAE pushes local food production

UAE – Dubai based agritech company Armela plans to build a high tech horizontal strawberry facility as it grows its fresh produce operations across the United Arab Emirates.

Founder and CEO Avir Shah shared the update during the Gulf Food event in Dubai, stating that the facility will support year round strawberry supply and strengthen Armela’s position in the local fresh produce market.

Armela currently supplies between 80 and 85 percent of the UAE lettuce market. The company continues to grow its presence in kale and cucumber through farm acquisitions across the country. Its advanced hydroponic sites in Dubai and Abu Dhabi produce about 4.2 tonnes of premium lettuce each year, while lower tech farms handle kale and cucumber production.

The company uses both horizontal and vertical farming systems to manage costs and maintain steady output. Shah confirmed that Armela remains careful when investing in vertical farming and continues to test solutions that balance production efficiency and spending.

Armela also plans to test local broccoli production, which the UAE currently imports in large volumes from Kenya. Shah explained the company’s interest in producing the crop locally. “We are among the largest importers of broccoli in the UAE. Now we’re exploring whether mid tech greenhouses can produce it locally year round,” he said.

If the trials succeed, local broccoli production could lower transport expenses and increase supply for consumers across the year. Armela has also started trials for baby spinach and blueberries as part of its wider growth plans. The company receives backing from UAE based investor AWR, which supports its agricultural expansion.

Regional focus on food and environment

Armela’s growth comes as Gulf countries strengthen food security plans and invest in climate friendly farming. Governments across the region continue to support modern farming systems that can handle extreme weather and limited water resources.

At the same time, regional leaders met in Jeddah during the Second Session of the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Middle East Green Initiative. The meeting gathered representatives from 31 member states and several global organisations to support joint environmental action.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Alfadley, stressed the need for joint work to tackle environmental risks and restore damaged land. He also welcomed Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Syria as new members. “This meeting represents a critical step in finalizing joint efforts between member states and establishing the initiative’s permanent Secretariat in Riyadh,” Alfadley said.

He added that commitments to plant trees have exceeded 22 billion across member countries. Saudi Arabia has already planted more than 151 million trees and expanded natural reserve coverage to more than 18 percent of its land area, with a target of 30 percent by 2030.

The UAE’s agricultural investment and regional environmental partnerships show how Gulf nations continue to push for stable food systems and long term environmental protection.

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