Saudi grower announces greenhouse expansion mega-project
Source: VFD.com
Saudi grower announces greenhouse expansion mega-project Saudi grower Dava Agricultural has announced the expansion of its controlled-environment production with two projects currently under development, including the Taif mega-project, which extends over 350 hectares of glass greenhouses. Wissam Abdul Samad, Deputy CEO of Dava Agricultural, states, "In alignment with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and global sustainability standards, we are announcing a landmark project that will transform desert land into highly productive farms through advanced climate control systems and efficient irrigation and water-saving technologies.
This allows us to produce high volumes of premium-quality produce using the advantages of hydroponics." The grower currently accounts for 13.8% of Saudi Arabia's greenhouse production, with a daily production of 135 tonnes of fresh produce spread across 85 hectares of glass hydroponic greenhouses. This involves ongoing developments, such as 23 hectares of polycarbonate greenhouses in Al-Kharj expected to enter into production by 2027, 20 hectares of semi-closed glass greenhouses in Al-Kharj by 2028, a mushroom cultivation facility, and 700 hectares of open-field crops (potatoes, carrots, onions) by 2027," The grower continues.
© Dava Dava's landmark integrated agricultural development project in Taif is the company's most ambitious to date: covering 10 million square meters (approximately 1,000 hectares, including 350 ha of greenhouses), it aims , according to Abdul Samad, to transform the region into a sustainable, high-value-added agricultural hub by replacing imports with high-quality local production while integrating technology, sustainability, and community impact. The grower provides an outlook of the project: Total Area: 1000 hectares Total Workforce: ~1,000 employees / Including 300+ from Taif region 10 hectares commercial nursery for high-quality seedlings 10 hectares of an eco-tourism open garden and greenhouse visitor experience Plantation Program: A large-scale planting initiative of 1 million trees, including: 400,000 grape trees 100,000 pomegranate trees 250,000 Moringa & Leucaena trees 250,000 Sidr trees 600,000 windbreak and fencing trees Land Use Distribution 72 hectares – Polycarbonate high-tech greenhouses 135 hectares – Vegetable net houses 282 hectares – Grape net houses 700 hectares – Open-field crops (potatoes, carrots, onions – phased) 5 hectares – Sorting, packing, and storage facilities 12 hectares – Water Lake (825 m³) with integrated fish production 65 hectares – Solar energy park Production Focus: The project aims to replace imported crops with premium local production, including: Grapes Blueberries Iceberg lettuce A wide range of fruits, berries, and vegetables The announcement of this project comes at a pivotal juncture, as logistical disruptions stemming from geopolitical tensions around the Arabian Peninsula have disrupted the supply chain for imported fresh produce.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
