Saudi Arabia Emphasises Private-Sector Partnerships To Advance Sustainable Agriculture At AgriteQ 2026

Saudi Arabia took part as guest of honour at the 13th Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ 2026) in Doha, using the event to present progress in domestic food production, highlight rising self-sufficiency levels, and outline national plans to strengthen sustainable agriculture and food security for local and regional markets.

Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley attended the opening at Katara Cultural Village, together with officials and ambassadors from several countries. The Saudi delegation focused on the Kingdom’s strategies for supporting the agricultural sector, expanding private-sector participation, and linking these efforts with wider food security objectives in the Gulf region.

Saudi Arabia set out current self-sufficiency rates for several key food products during AgriteQ 2026, stressing that higher domestic output is reducing reliance on imports and supporting food security planning across the region through surplus production, especially for dates and eggs, which now exceed national consumption needs.

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The Kingdom reported self-sufficiency of 118% for dates and 101% for eggs, while vegetables reached 78%. Poultry achieved 69%, and fish stood at 61.5%. Officials described these levels as evidence of broader progress in agricultural performance and as indicators guiding future investment priorities within the sector.

Alongside the production figures, Saudi Arabia detailed incentives designed to attract investors to modern agricultural technologies. Measures include allocating investment land, offering financing through the Agricultural Development Fund, simplifying licensing procedures, and providing technical and advisory assistance for local and international investors seeking to develop advanced projects in the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture also presented four official quality labels for Saudi food products: "Organic," "SAMAQ," "Saudi Dates Mark," and Saudi G.A.P. certifications. These schemes aim to improve product competitiveness, support farmers and investors, ease access to export markets, and reassure consumers about quality, safety, and product classification standards.

Several Saudi companies specialising in date production and processing joined AgriteQ 2026, displaying a range of products and highlighting competitive strengths in both domestic and international markets. A high-level tour of the exhibition pavilions included Abdulrahman Alfadley, Qatar’s Minister of Municipality Abdullah Al Attiya, and other officials, underlining regional interest in Saudi Arabia’s agricultural experience.

With inputs from SPA