Page 34 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - DECEMBER 2024

The fifth season of the ‘World’s Coolest Winter’ campaign, launched under the
theme ‘Green Tourism,’ aims to promote successful agricultural tourism destinations
in the UAE.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, the National Agricultural Center, and
local tourism bodies, the campaign encourages community involvement in
sustainable farming practices and boosts visits to sustainable agricultural projects.

Aligned with the UAE's domestic tourism strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE
and Ruler of Dubai, the initiative seeks to develop an integrated tourism ecosystem
across the nation.

Smart technologies
Two years ago, on July 18, 2022, Emirates Flight Catering, one of the largest in-
flight catering providers globally, announced the opening of the world’s largest
hydroponic vertical farm, ‘Bustanica,’ farm, covering an area of 330,000 square feet
near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, with an investment
of AED 150 million.

Bustanica utilizes hydroponic farming, a soil-free agricultural method where water
serves as the growing medium for plants.

Soil-less farming projects, such as this, are economically viable in the medium to
long term, with the potential to recover project costs within a period of 5 to 10 years.

The UAE is home to numerous pioneering agricultural projects that leverage modern
technology, with hydroponic farming standing out as one of the most prominent.

This soil-free farming method boosts productivity, yielding nearly four times more
than traditional greenhouse farming by using less space and growing more plants.

Key crops grown in the UAE through hydroponics include cucumbers, tomatoes,
cherry tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and strawberries.

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