“Desert” & “Agriculture”, here are two words that you don’t often find in the same sentence. Well, except in the UAE! The UAE government has expressed its will to develop more and more the field of agriculture and more precisely sustainable agriculture. Despite some serious issues due to the scarcity of water resource & difficult environmental conditions in the region, agriculture has been developing since the ’70s in Fujairah, Al Ain, and Ras Al Khaimah.

The number of farms increased from 4,000 in 1971 to 35,704 in 2011. As a result of the UAE’s efforts, there are now 54 organic vegetation farms, three animal production farms and one manufacturing facility. The organic production area in the UAE increased to 3920 hectares by the end of 2013.

There are now some great organic farms in the country open to the public. What a great way to spend your weekend & support the local organic sector: visit the farms, learn about the impact of the organic agriculture movement, pick up some fresh vegetables and live the farm to table experience.

If this sounds like something you are interested in, check out the below addresses that you can visit:

Organic Oasis

Organic Oasis is located in Al Khawaneej, Dubai, just opposite Mushrif park. They define the farm as a “strive to encourage better eating habits” and insist that they are not business driven. The farms are certified organic by both the local Emirates and the German certifying board. They are open to visitors be it for families, friends but also corporations and schools.

If you cannot visit them just yet, know that they also offer a delivery box filled with tasty fresh veggies from the farm.

For pictures of the farm head over to their Instagram

IGR Organic Farms 

IGR stands for Integrated Green Resources. IGR farms have been producing and distributing organic vegetables since 2008 and are located in Al Rahba and Al Khawaneej. Their products are distributed in many grocery stores in the UAE but if you are more interested in buying online, you can also shop directly from their website.

For pictures of the farm head over to their Instagram.

Greenheart UAE

The Greenheart Farm is located in an off-road desert setting near Quata in of Sharjah, about an hour away from Dubai. Started in 2012, the Greenheart Farms are focused on building soil, running 100% chemical free operation, using heirloom seeds (seeds that existed before 1952, when the first industrialized seeds emerged), well water , slaughter-free (goats, chickens, and cows are mostly for the manure and they only sell chicken eggs).

You can also order for a next day delivery from their online shop.

For pictures of the farm head over to their Instagram.