Vertical farming in the UAE: Fresh, clean, and grown by code

Khaleej Times

10 hours ago

In a country better known for sand dunes than salad bowls, something quietly radical is growing behind glass walls. Inside brightly lit, climate-controlled farms, tomatoes ripen untouched by pesticides, and lettuce flourishes in vertical towers; no soil, no sunlight, no tractors.
This isn't traditional farming; it's agriculture reimagined for the 21st century. No dirt under your nails. No crop seasons to worry about. Just smart tech feeding smart cities.
Once dismissed as futuristic novelties, vertical farms are now rising in malls, warehouses, and hotel rooftops across the Emirates. They're feeding more than just a population — they're feeding a movement for cleaner, smarter, more sustainable food.
At a time of water scarcity and climate disruption, the UAE isn't just adapting, it's innovating. As told to BTR magazine, both UNS Vertical Farms and Pure Harvest Smart Farms are reshaping how the UAE thinks about agriculture and food doesn't have to grow from the ground anymore — sometimes, it grows from innovation. And somehow — it tastes even better.
Less water, more yield
Ask anyone in agriculture and they'll tell you: water is everything. Which is precisely why the 90% reduction in water usage by vertical farms feels like a game changer — especially in a place like the UAE, where every drop counts.
'At UNS Farms, we run a closed-loop hydroponic system,' says Mehlam Murtaza, Executive Director at UNS Vertical Farms. 'That means water isn't lost to the soil or evaporated — it's recycled and reused. We deliver exactly what the plant needs, directly to the roots. No more, no less.'
Instead of sprawling fields, UNS builds up — using vertical racks that multiply their yield per square meter. Combine that with a climate-controlled environment and you get high-output farming that's unaffected by the region's sweltering heat or unreliable rainfall. 'We've essentially engineered a micro-climate inside our farms,' Murtaza adds. 'It's about growing smarter, not just harder.'
A farm without pesticides
Walk through a UNS facility or Pure Harvest greenhouse, and you'll notice something odd: no chemicals. Zero. Not even the so-called 'safe' ones.
For both companies, removing pesticides isn't just a marketing angle — it's a pillar of their sustainability ethos.
'We operate like we're guarding a castle,' says Sky Kurtz, CEO and Founder of Pure Harvest Smart Farms. 'Our climate-controlled, closed-loop system keeps pests out. And if something does get in, we don't reach for chemicals — we bring in beneficial insects or other natural interventions.'
Pure Harvest leans into integrated pest management (IPM), a method that prioritizes balance over eradication. In short, it's about working with nature rather than against it.
UNS, meanwhile, takes a similarly holistic route. 'It's about early detection, sanitation, and rotating crops regularly,' says Murtaza. 'When you have full control over your growing environment, you don't need to rely on chemicals. And that's better for the planet — and for people.'
Both companies back their methods with international certifications, like HACCP and ISO 22000:2018, reassuring consumers that 'chemical-free' doesn't mean 'risky.' In fact, it means the opposite.
Farms in malls, not fields
There's something captivating about watching lettuce grow in the middle of a luxury mall or seeing a vertical herb garden inside a five-star hotel. It's not just for show. For UNS, these collaborations are part of a larger mission: making farming visible, accessible, and even stylish.
'When we bring vertical farms into public spaces, it changes the way people think about agriculture,' Murtaza explains. 'It's not something distant or industrial — it's fresh, it's here, it's part of your daily life.'
The company's green installations — whether on a mall wall or in a restaurant lobby — spark conversations and curiosity. And that's exactly the point.
Pure Harvest takes a slightly different route. Rather than public installations, they connect with consumers through transparency. 'We use QR codes on our packaging so people can trace exactly where and how their food was grown,' says Kurtz. 'We share videos, behind-the-scenes farm content, and speak openly about our practices. Because people care — and they're asking smarter questions.'
Conscious consumers are here to stay
And those smarter questions are reshaping the market. In recent years, there's been a clear shift in the UAE's grocery habits, especially among millennials and Gen Z. No longer content with labels like 'organic' or 'fresh,' these buyers want to know the full story behind their food.
'Consumers are now willing to pay a bit more for food that's not only good for them but good for the planet,' Kurtz says. 'There's a real hunger — pun intended — for climate-conscious, zero-mile produce.'
According to him, tomatoes, leafy greens, and strawberries are leading the demand for clean, local, pesticide-free food. These are everyday staples — proof that sustainability isn't just for specialty items anymore. 'We're not just selling produce,' Kurtz adds. 'We're selling trust.'
Tech at the root
At the heart of this movement is technology. From moisture sensors to automated nutrient dosing systems, both UNS and Pure Harvest rely heavily on smart tools to keep their farms efficient and scalable.
'Automation reduces human error and ensures consistency,' Kurtz says. 'But more importantly, it helps us grow the same quality of produce year-round, even in the brutal heat of August.'
IoT systems monitor everything — light levels, humidity, nutrient balance, CO2 levels — and make minute adjustments in real time. This allows farms to optimise every input while producing 10–15 times more food per square metre than conventional farms. Kurtz calls this approach 'veridical farming'— not just vertical, but truthful. 'We don't make vague claims,' he says. 'We show the numbers. That's what our customers, our partners, and our investors want.'
A national priority
The UAE isn't just watching from the sidelines — it's actively supporting this new wave of
agriculture. With food security ranked as a top national priority, and a goal to reduce dependence on imports, innovations in vertical and hydroponic farming fit neatly into the government's broader vision.
Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) is seen as a long-term solution to climate stress, population growth, and unpredictable global food supply chains. And in many ways, companies like UNS and Pure Harvest aren't just riding that wave — they're helping shape it.
The future is up
As urban populations swell, farmland shrinks, and climate concerns intensify, the question is no longer if vertical farming is the answer—but how fast it can scale to meet growing demand. In the UAE, it's not just a futuristic experiment. It's happening now, behind glass walls, under LED lights, and in places no one expected—shopping malls, hotel rooftops, even within logistics hubs.
These farms don't just grow food—they grow resilience. They bring agriculture closer to the plate, cut the carbon miles, and give consumers confidence in what they're eating. They're a quiet but powerful rebuttal to the belief that sustainable food production isn't possible in arid, resource-scarce regions.
For pioneers like Pure Harvest and UNS Farms, the work is far from done. Their eyes are firmly set on the next phase: scaling up, improving affordability, expanding crop diversity, and helping the region move one step closer to food independence.
But beyond the metrics and machinery, there's something profoundly human about this shift. It's about reconnecting with what we eat, about feeding growing cities without depleting the planet—and doing it with intention, intelligence, and integrity.
So, the next time you're biting into a crisp local salad in the UAE, consider this: it may have never touched soil, never seen a pesticide, and never traveled more than a few kilometers. And yet, it may just be the most grounded thing on your plate.
The future of food isn't out in the fields anymore. It's growing up.
What's Growing in the UAE's High-Tech Farms
No soil? No problem.
Crisp greens and juicy tomatoes grow vertically — in towers, not fields. Soil's out, science is in.
90% less water, 100% more wow
Hydroponics and closed-loop systems mean each drop is reused. It's farming tailor-made for the desert.
Pesticide-free, planet-friendly
No sprays, no chemicals. Just clean produce grown in sealed, climate-controlled environments.
Farming without sunlight
LEDs mimic daylight so precisely, plants don't miss the sun — and they thrive indoors, 24/7.
Lettuce in the lobby? Yes, please.
UNS puts vertical farms in malls and hotels. It's fresh, flashy, and fabulously futuristic.
QR codes tell all
Scan your salad — Pure Harvest lets you trace every tomato to its tech-savvy roots.
Farming on auto-pilot
AI, sensors, and smart climate tools run the show — ensuring perfect crops every single day.
No bugs, no drama
Natural pest control and integrated systems mean no creepy crawlies — and no harsh fixes.
Certified clean
HACCP, ISO, and Global GAP certifications mean safe food that's as trustworthy as it is tasty.
Rooted in national strategy
The UAE is investing big in smart farms to feed its future — no imports, just innovation.