Business Feature: From traditional agriculture to smart agri-cities The agricultural cities of Saham in Al Batinah North and Al Najd in Dhofar are at the forefront of these initiatives. Developed using advanced technologies, they rely on hydroponics, artificial intelligence and remote sensing, boosting productivity while reducing water consumption by 60% to 90% compared to traditional farming. Published: 07:05 PM,May 04,2026 | EDITED : 11:05 PM,May 04,2026 Rapid economic activity in 2026 is driving the development of integrated agricultural cities as part of the objectives of Oman Vision 2040. This strategic direction aims to enhance food security and diversify national income. The transformation is underpinned by strong indicators reflecting the scale of investment and ambition to build a modern, technology-driven and sustainable agricultural sector. The agricultural cities of Saham in Al Batinah North and Al Najd in Dhofar are at the forefront of these initiatives. Developed using advanced technologies, they rely on hydroponics, artificial intelligence and remote sensing, boosting productivity while reducing water consumption by 60% to 90% compared to traditional farming. They also feature integrated infrastructure, including processing and packaging centres, cold storage and renewable energy systems, enhancing supply chain efficiency. On the investment front, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, in cooperation with Invest in Oman, announced 400 investment opportunities in 2026 worth around RO 400 million, with implementation targeted before mid-year. Key projects in Al Najd include an onion cultivation and processing project valued at RO 4.8 million, a garlic production project worth RO 2.3 million and greenhouse projects for potatoes, melons and leafy vegetables. These initiatives highlight efforts to boost strategic crop production and reduce import dependence. Eng Salem bin Saif al Abdali, an economic analyst and food security expert, noted that each governorate in Oman has a distinct agricultural profile — from Dhofar’s tropical