ABU DHABI : Mansour bin Zayed makes a decision to authorise 71 agricultural-based businesses
ABU DHABI: In his capacity as the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Court, has made a decision to approve 71 economic activities that can be carried out on agricultural lands, including leisure and tourism activities like vacation homes to support the tourism sector and promote the UAE's ancient heritage, in addition.
Four categories of economic activities, including 21 plant-related activities, 24 animal-related activities, 18 food-related activities, and 8 leisure-related activities, particularly for vacation homes, are included on the list of permitted economic activities on farms in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. All of these endeavour to support the tourism industry and advance the cultural growth of the agricultural sector.
If there is a licenced plant or animal main activity on the farm, the practise of economic activities is restricted to the farm owner only, and the trade licence must be issued in the name of the farm owner, then the ADAFSA has set the requirements and constructions necessary for economic activities in agricultural lands not to exceed 30% of the total area of the farm.
"The Committee for the Determination of Economic Activities on Agricultural Lands, comprised of the Department of Economic Development- Abu Dhabi, the Department of Municipalities and Transport, and the Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi, formed in response to directives from the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, produced the decision. To make the farm a successful investment project and an educational, recreational, and heritage experience in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Committee worked to maximise the use of agricultural land, diversify the options for projects that can be established on farms, as well as to regulate and facilitate the practise of recreational and tourism activities on farms. Director General of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority Saeed Al Bahri Al Ameri remarked.
"Agricultural lands are a valuable resource for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its owners. With the help of the Wise Leadership, we at ADAFSA are attempting to maximise the value of this wealth and diversify the economic activities that can be carried out on farms in order to strengthen the food security system and increase local plant and animal production. We are also working to promote agri-tourism in order to take advantage of the recreational opportunities offered at many of the crop and livestock farms in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Added he.
Al Ameri emphasised that the regulation and licencing of commercial operations in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will promote agritourism because there are numerous farms that provide a distinctive tourist experience. Additionally, he emphasised that in accordance with the laws that are currently in effect in the Emirate, the responsible government authorities will be in charge of regulating, licencing, categorising, managing, and inspecting the practise of economic activities on agricultural lands.
