emirates7 - His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, has introduced the "Plant the Emirates" national programme, which aims to promote agricultural development and strengthen sustainable national food security in line with the UAE’s strategic goals.
The programme's launch was announced during a UAE Cabinet meeting held in Al Marmoom, Dubai, attended by other key leaders, including His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence; and His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Interior.
Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the initiative's roots in the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed, aimed at cultivating the UAE’s land and establishing a culture of agriculture among future generations. The "Plant the Emirates" programme will focus on enhancing food security, expanding agricultural technologies, and building partnerships with the private sector, while also increasing green spaces to ensure sustainability.
One of the key elements of the programme is the establishment of the National Agriculture Centre, which will drive efforts to enhance the agricultural sector by providing technical support, fostering partnerships, launching new initiatives, and promoting locally grown agricultural products.
Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of collective involvement in the project, encouraging all citizens to participate through innovative ideas, initiatives, and by promoting agriculture. The programme’s goals include supporting domestic agriculture, expanding green spaces, and ensuring that UAE-grown products are associated with high quality and nutritional value.
The programme is aligned with the "Year of Sustainability 2024" and aims to reduce the carbon footprint by encouraging the use of locally produced agricultural goods. A key aspect involves collaborating with government entities, the private sector, and community members through national campaigns, exhibitions, and markets, as well as promoting smart agriculture and technological advancements.
Over the next five years, the National Agriculture Centre will focus on increasing the number of productive farms by 20%, boosting the number of organic farms by 25%, and adopting climate-smart solutions across 30% of farms. It also aims to reduce agricultural waste by 50% and increase the use of local products in UAE hotels and restaurants by 25%, alongside raising the number of workers in the sector by 15%.
During the same meeting, the Cabinet reviewed progress on the UAE's Biodiversity Sites Project, which is being led by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The project has identified nine critical biodiversity sites across the UAE, which will be added to the global biodiversity sites database. These include areas such as the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, and Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. The project aims to enhance environmental competitiveness by significantly increasing the protected area across key biodiversity sites.
Additionally, the Cabinet discussed updates on the UAE Circular Economy Agenda 2031, noting progress in regulating waste transfer between emirates, supporting infrastructure investments, and implementing measures to reduce plastic scrap and waste in the consumer goods sector.
The Cabinet also approved the restructuring of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Committee, now chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, and the restructuring of the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection.
Furthermore, the UAE has joined the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, ensuring peaceful use of the continent, and has been accepted as an observer in the Arctic Council, promoting cooperation with Arctic nations. The Cabinet also ratified a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Mauritius to boost trade and investment, along with several international agreements, including an extradition treaty with Sweden and an agreement with the WHO to establish a Global Health Emergency Logistics Hub in the UAE.
The meeting also elevated the National Award for Culture and Creativity to the Emirates Medal for Culture and Creativity, in recognition of cultural contributions. The UAE will host several major international events, including the WeProtect Global Alliance Summit and the Universal Postal Union Congress in 2025.
Lastly, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Federal Law on Medically Assisted Reproduction and the GCC Common Customs Law, and introduced a grace period for updating tax records without incurring fines.
The programme's launch was announced during a UAE Cabinet meeting held in Al Marmoom, Dubai, attended by other key leaders, including His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence; and His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Interior.
Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the initiative's roots in the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed, aimed at cultivating the UAE’s land and establishing a culture of agriculture among future generations. The "Plant the Emirates" programme will focus on enhancing food security, expanding agricultural technologies, and building partnerships with the private sector, while also increasing green spaces to ensure sustainability.
One of the key elements of the programme is the establishment of the National Agriculture Centre, which will drive efforts to enhance the agricultural sector by providing technical support, fostering partnerships, launching new initiatives, and promoting locally grown agricultural products.
Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of collective involvement in the project, encouraging all citizens to participate through innovative ideas, initiatives, and by promoting agriculture. The programme’s goals include supporting domestic agriculture, expanding green spaces, and ensuring that UAE-grown products are associated with high quality and nutritional value.
The programme is aligned with the "Year of Sustainability 2024" and aims to reduce the carbon footprint by encouraging the use of locally produced agricultural goods. A key aspect involves collaborating with government entities, the private sector, and community members through national campaigns, exhibitions, and markets, as well as promoting smart agriculture and technological advancements.
Over the next five years, the National Agriculture Centre will focus on increasing the number of productive farms by 20%, boosting the number of organic farms by 25%, and adopting climate-smart solutions across 30% of farms. It also aims to reduce agricultural waste by 50% and increase the use of local products in UAE hotels and restaurants by 25%, alongside raising the number of workers in the sector by 15%.
During the same meeting, the Cabinet reviewed progress on the UAE's Biodiversity Sites Project, which is being led by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The project has identified nine critical biodiversity sites across the UAE, which will be added to the global biodiversity sites database. These include areas such as the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, and Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. The project aims to enhance environmental competitiveness by significantly increasing the protected area across key biodiversity sites.
Additionally, the Cabinet discussed updates on the UAE Circular Economy Agenda 2031, noting progress in regulating waste transfer between emirates, supporting infrastructure investments, and implementing measures to reduce plastic scrap and waste in the consumer goods sector.
The Cabinet also approved the restructuring of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Committee, now chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, and the restructuring of the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection.
Furthermore, the UAE has joined the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, ensuring peaceful use of the continent, and has been accepted as an observer in the Arctic Council, promoting cooperation with Arctic nations. The Cabinet also ratified a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Mauritius to boost trade and investment, along with several international agreements, including an extradition treaty with Sweden and an agreement with the WHO to establish a Global Health Emergency Logistics Hub in the UAE.
The meeting also elevated the National Award for Culture and Creativity to the Emirates Medal for Culture and Creativity, in recognition of cultural contributions. The UAE will host several major international events, including the WeProtect Global Alliance Summit and the Universal Postal Union Congress in 2025.
Lastly, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Federal Law on Medically Assisted Reproduction and the GCC Common Customs Law, and introduced a grace period for updating tax records without incurring fines.