Oman approves two large-scale agricultural cities

Oman is advancing two large-scale agricultural cities within a matter of weeks.

The pace signals how quickly food-security investment is moving across the region.

The RO903mn Al Najd Agricultural City in Dhofar, unveiled recently, targets around 105,000 tonnes of additional annual agricultural production, with development planned across three investment phases through to 2060.

It follows another major agricultural city planned near Saham, with an investment value of approximately $4.2bn.

Two national programmes of this scale progressing in close succession point to a broader shift in how Gulf states are approaching domestic food production.

The technologies being considered reflect that shift. Al Najd incorporates controlled-environment and advanced agricultural systems alongside renewable energy and integrated water management, with the wider masterplan considering vertical farming, hydroponics, aquaponics and AI-driven solutions.

The performance of these technologies depends on how they are engineered around local climate, water availability, crop requirements, energy demand and long-term operation.

That is where the challenge lies.

The emphasis is moving away from importing standardised agricultural models towards designing complete production systems around local conditions and resources.

As Gulf states continue investing in domestic food production at scale, the technical standards established by programmes such as these will help shape what follows across the region.

LinkedIn post 20-08-2026