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Arab Forum For Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS)

Country brief - Saudi Arabia

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 5 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Synopsis (short abstract) The Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS) strengthens inclusive, climate-smart advisory services across the Arab region by linking public, private, and civil-society providers. In Saudi Arabia, agriculture is modest yet strategic, contributing 2.7 percent of GDP in 2023 and employing about 3 percent of the population. Although 81.14 percent of national land is classified as agricultural, nearly all is permanent meadows and pastures, with only 1.98 percent arable and 0.12 percent in permanent crops, reflecting arid conditions and water scarcity. The kingdom is a global leader in dates, producing more than 1.6 million tonnes on 165 000 hectares with strong self-sufficiency, while remaining a net food importer that still exports dates, wheat, dairy, eggs, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture guide sustainable growth, resource efficiency, and technology adoption. MEWA leads a pluralistic advisory system, expands extension centres and digital tools, and operates platforms such as Murshiduk and the Field app, alongside initiatives on smart agriculture, women’s empowerment, and integrated support for small farmers.

Language English

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    Arab Forum For Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS)
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    The Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS) strengthens inclusive, climate-smart advisory systems across the Arab region by linking public, private, and civil-society providers. In the United Arab Emirates, agriculture operates under arid conditions and scarce water with limited arable land (~5.5 percent), yet remains strategic for food security and diversification. The sector contributes ~0.7 percent of GDP (2023) and ~1 percent of employment, guided by the National Food Security Strategy 2051 to scale tech-enabled, sustainable production and nutrition. Dates are the flagship crop and leading agri-export, with ~24,000 farmers. Public support is led by MOCCAE (input subsidies, 21 extension officers, training, 2025 National Agricultural Guidance Forum) and Abu Dhabi entities (ADFSC, ADAFSA). Digitalization is rapid: online extension requests, the Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program, EDB AgriTech finance, and market/traceability platforms (Al Foah, eZad, Food Watch), complemented by cooperatives and agritourism.
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