Armela Farms is leveraging automation, AI-driven climate control, robotics, and hydroponic technologies to strengthen food security, optimise water usage, and build a more resilient agricultural ecosystem aligned with the UAE’s industrial and sustainability ambitions.
Food production across the UAE is undergoing a technological transformation as advanced agricultural systems begin redefining how farms operate, scale, and respond to growing sustainability and food-security demands. From AI-powered climate control and robotics to precision irrigation and hydroponic cultivation, technology-led farming models are enabling higher productivity, improved crop consistency, and greater resilience against supply-chain disruptions.
The UAE’s broader industrial and self-sufficiency ambitions under initiatives such as Make it in the Emirates are creating strong momentum for companies like Armela Farms, which are demonstrating how controlled-environment agriculture can reduce reliance on imports while optimising scarce resources such as water and land.
Avir Shah, Founder, CEO & Chairman of Armela Farms, at Make it in the Emirates, shared insights on the growing role of automation, intelligent farming systems, and sustainable production models shaping the future of agriculture and long-term food security across the region.
How is automation changing the way farms operate in the UAE, particularly in terms of efficiency and consistency?
Automation is transforming agriculture in the UAE by making production more efficient, predictable, and scalable. At Armela Farms, our hydroponic facilities combine advanced climate control, sensor networks, robotic growing systems, precision fertigation, and data-driven operational management. These technologies allow us to control key parameters such as temperature, humidity, CO2, light, and nutrient delivery with a high level of accuracy. Our robotic growing system has enabled us to achieve more than 200% higher annual production per square metre compared with conventional benchmark systems, while maintaining consistency in both volume and quality. This level of automation reduces variability, improves resource efficiency, and ensures reliable, year-round production.
How do your controlled environment and automated systems impact crop quality and yield?
Our controlled environment and automated systems have a direct impact on both crop quality and yield. Because the crop is grown inside a fully managed environment, every input can be monitored and adjusted according to plant needs. Advanced climate control, supported by AI-driven Intelligent Algorithms and our own historical climate data, allows us to maintain stable growing conditions throughout the year, even when external weather conditions fluctuate. This gives us consistent production volumes, uniform product quality, improved shelf life, and a more reliable supply for customers.
“Our precision fertigation and closed-loop irrigation system allow us to recycle 100% of irrigation water, reducing waste while protecting crop performance.”
How does Armela Farms align with the goals of Make it in the Emirates, particularly around innovation and local production?
Armela Farms aligns strongly with the goals of Make it in the Emirates because we represent a new model of local, technology-enabled food production. We are not only farming; we are engineering food production through controlled environment agriculture, automation, data analytics, and advanced growing systems. This creates a high-tech local production platform that supports national self-sufficiency, reduces reliance on imports, and contributes to the diversification of the UAE’s industrial base. Our model also reflects sustainable industrial innovation, including efficient water use, year-round production, and the recycling of plant residues so that organic crop waste is converted into value rather than sent to landfill.
How does local, tech-enabled production help strengthen food supply chains in the UAE?
Local, technology-enabled production strengthens the UAE’s food supply chain by reducing dependence on long international logistics routes and creating a more resilient local source of fresh produce. With real-time monitoring, predictive data, and climate-control systems supported by Intelligent Algorithms and historical performance data, we can plan production with greater accuracy and respond faster to market needs. Physical proximity to customers also means fresher products, shorter delivery times, and lower exposure to disruptions caused by global shipping delays, geopolitical events, or extreme climate conditions elsewhere.
“Local high-tech farming gives the UAE more control over availability, quality, and continuity of supply.”
How does your farming model allow you to respond to supply or demand disruptions?
Our farming model gives us a strong ability to respond to both supply and demand disruptions. Because our production is controlled, modular, and data-driven, we can adjust planting schedules, harvest planning, and crop cycles more quickly than traditional open-field farming. The use of automation, advanced climate control, and historical climate and production data helps us forecast output and maintain stable production across the year. This flexibility allows us to respond to sudden changes in demand, reduce the effect of external supply shortages, and support the market with consistent availability and quality.
What role will advanced agricultural technologies play in the UAE’s long-term food security goals?
Advanced agricultural technologies will play a central role in the UAE’s long-term food security strategy. In an arid region with limited freshwater and challenging climate conditions, the future of agriculture depends on precision, efficiency, and resilience. Technologies such as robotics, AI, machine learning, IoT, advanced climate control, water recycling, and data-driven crop management will allow the UAE to produce more food locally using fewer resources. For Armela Farms, this means combining high productivity per square metre with 100% irrigation-water recycling, year-round consistency, and responsible handling of plant residues. These technologies will not only increase local production capacity but also position the UAE as a regional and global leader in sustainable agriculture for hot-climate environments.