Gheras Agricultural Company is continuing to develop an integrated agricultural model in Sharjah, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to strengthen sustainable food security and promote modern, research-based farming practices.

The project includes a factory for honey and therapeutic products, expected to produce up to 120 tonnes annually, alongside student housing, administrative offices, meeting facilities, advanced irrigation networks, and smart technologies specifically designed for desert environments.

Al Dhaid was chosen for its favourable agricultural and environmental conditions, strategic location, historic role in farming, and proximity to universities and agricultural colleges. This supports collaboration with education and training programmes, linking academic knowledge with practical application.

Maryam Al Junaibi, Agricultural Sector Director at Sharjah Agriculture and Livestock Production Establishment (Ektifa), said the project uses a unique cooling system designed for arid regions. Among the first of its kind globally to operate under positive air pressure, it relies on solar energy and the physical properties of water and air, reducing water and energy consumption by up to 70 per cent and enabling the direct use of well water without desalination.

Currently, three hectares are under cultivation in the first phase, producing around 10 tonnes annually, with capacity expected to reach 250 tonnes once the project is complete.

Gheras produces organic crops using innovative Emirati-developed techniques and natural, non-GMO seeds that have been preserved for more than 50 years. The farm grows a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, including citrus, broccoli, tomatoes, leafy greens, strawberries, and organic blueberries, all grown exclusively on site.

The project also prioritises training and capacity-building through programmes for agriculture students and plans for a dedicated visitor centre. Spanning 32 hectares, Gheras features modern greenhouses, open-field farming, nurseries, and packaging facilities, reinforcing Sharjah’s commitment to safe, locally produced food.

WAM

Global demand for gold broke records in 2025 as investors rushed into the metal and prices surged to repeated all-time highs, according to new data from the World Gold Council.

Total gold demand crossed 5,000 tonnes for the first time, helped by heavy buying of bars, coins and gold-backed funds. The gold price set 53 new records during the year, lifting the total value of global gold demand to an unprecedented $555 billion.

Research analysts and market strategists at the World Gold Council described 2025 as a “groundbreaking year for gold,” driven mainly by investment demand and safe-haven buying. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.)

Investors drive gold record boom

Investment was the main force behind gold’s record year.

Global gold exchange-traded funds added 801 tonnes, the second-strongest year on record. Bar and coin buying climbed to a 12-year high, showing that both large investors and everyday buyers were turning to physical gold.

 “Safe-haven and diversification motives were consistent themes driving investment interest throughout the year,” the analysts at the World Gold Council said in the report.

They added that price momentum itself pulled more buyers into the market, reinforcing demand across investment products.

For UAE residents, this trend shows up clearly in retail activity. Bar and coin demand across the Middle East rose in 2025, with the UAE recording a year-on-year increase in physical investment buying.

Jewellery buys fell, spending rose

Record prices made jewellery harder to afford.

Global jewellery demand fell sharply in volume terms as buyers reduced how much gold they could purchase. Yet the total amount of money spent on gold jewellery still climbed to a record $172 billion, as higher prices more than offset lower volumes.

 “A decline in jewellery demand volumes was entirely expected in the environment of successive record gold price highs,” the WGC market strategists noted. They said interest in gold jewellery remained strong even as buyers adapted to higher prices.

In the Middle East, jewellery demand volumes declined, including in the UAE, where purchases eased as costs rose. Yet spending values moved higher, reflecting continued cultural and investment interest in gold despite affordability pressures.

For many buyers, this meant choosing lighter pieces, trading old jewellery for new, or shifting part of their budget into small bars and coins.

Central banks stayed big buyers

Another major support came from central banks. Official institutions bought 863 tonnes of gold during 2025. While slightly lower than the previous two years, purchases remained historically high and spread across many countries.

“Central bank purchases remain historically elevated and geographically widespread,” the research analysts added. Their continued buying reinforced gold’s role as a reserve asset during a year marked by geopolitical tension, market volatility and currency uncertainty.

How this impacts UAE gold buyers

For UAE residents, the numbers reflect what many have already felt in shops and trading platforms.

Gold jewellery costs more, so buyers are purchasing less weight or turning to exchanges and upgrades. At the same time, interest in small bars, coins and digital gold products continues to grow as people look for ways to protect savings.

The World Gold Council expects investment demand to remain strong into 2026, supported by global uncertainty and ongoing central bank buying, while jewellery volumes may stay under pressure if prices remain high.

For everyday buyers, the message is simple. Gold is no longer just an ornament. For many in the UAE, it is increasingly a financial decision.

GN

Day three of Gulfood 2026 marked a decisive inflection point in the evolution of the world’s most influential food and beverage platform, reinforcing the UAE’s role as a global engine for agri-trade while signalling Gulfood’s transition into a system-shaping ecosystem spanning agriculture, technology, manufacturing, brands and future food solutions.

Building on the success of its dual-venue expansion, Gulfood advanced its next phase with the launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya, extending the platform into a new continent and firmly positioning agri-tech and innovation at the centre of the farm-to-fork-to-future continuum.

Emphasising Gulfood’s role as a catalyst for ecosystem-level collaboration, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and the UAE Food Cluster signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening cooperation across the food and agri-ecosystem. Saleh Lootah, Chairman of UAE Food Cluster, said, “The cluster strategy has brought ecosystem players together, enabling the UAE to position itself as a smart global food hub capable of addressing today’s challenges.” The UAE Food Cluster also granted Gulfood with a prestigious award, for its contribution towards building a strong UAE food ecosystem and connection of food clusters on a global level.

At the commercial core of day three was the Big Deal Hub, reinforcing Gulfood’s position as a deal-making engine connecting buyers, suppliers and growth markets at scale.

Reflecting its role as a global launchpad, Gulfood 2026 hosted a wave of new-to-market product launches, investments and brand debuts.

As the exhibition progressed, focus sharpened on the farm-to-fork-to-future continuum, bringing together agri-tech pioneers, food-tech start-ups and sustainable innovators to translate breakthroughs in precision aquaculture, functional nutrition and plant-based protein into scalable solutions.

Reinforcing this spirit of creativity and product excellence, the Gulfood Innovation Awards recognised standout achievements and winners across 11 categories.

WAM