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UAE's Agricultural Revolution: A New Era Begins | |
| Sumita Pawar |
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced plans to allow farms to operate holiday homes and tourist activities on their land in an effort to boost the economy in the agricultural sector.
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The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has approved 71 economic activities to be carried out on agricultural lands, including recreational and tourism activities such as holiday homes to support the tourism sector and promote the UAE’s ancient heritage.
Other activities will include plant, animal, and food activities to promote sustainable agricultural development and diversify the sources of income for farm owners.
The decision is the result of the efforts of the Committee for the Determination of Economic Activities on Agricultural Lands, formed under the directives of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, including the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi, the Department of Municipalities and Transport, and the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi.
ADAFSA has set the requirements and constructions necessary for economic activities in agricultural lands not to exceed 30% of the total area of the farm, provided that there is a licenced plant or animal main activity on the farm and that the practise of economic activities is limited to the farm owner only.
The government agencies will regulate, licence, classify, control, and inspect economic activities on agricultural lands. The UAE’s decision to allow agri-tourism will benefit from the recreational activities available at many of the crop and livestock farms in Abu Dhabi.