The Food and Water Security Committee of the Shura Council held its fourth regular meeting of the third annual sitting (2025–2026) of the tenth term this morning (Tuesday), during which it hosted specialists from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. The meeting discussed the submitted proposal on Future Agricultural Cities: Opportunities and Challenges, which the committee is currently examining in preparation for its presentation to the Council in upcoming sessions.

At the outset of the meeting, H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Malik Al Shuhi, Head of the Committee, underscored the importance of integrating efforts among relevant entities. He commended the Ministry’s role in advancing urban planning in a manner that strengthens food and water security and supports sustainable development objectives.

The meeting featured a presentation by specialists from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning on the agricultural cities project. The presentation highlighted the key pillars of the National Urban Development Strategy 2040 and its role in achieving a balance among economic, social, and environmental dimensions. It also outlined major challenges related to water resource management, urban expansion, and the impacts of climate change.

The presentation addressed the concept of agricultural cities as a development model that integrates sustainable agriculture with urban planning. This model contributes to enhancing food security, developing the rural economy, optimizing the use of underutilized land, and creating diverse investment opportunities across agriculture, agri-tourism, and real estate sectors.

The meeting also reviewed a number of proposed models, including the Sohar Agricultural City in North Al Batinah Governorate and the Najd Agricultural City in Dhofar Governorate. Their strategic locations and proximity to ports and markets were emphasized as key factors in enhancing the efficiency of supply chains, exports, and agricultural marketing.

The presentation provided an overview of the core infrastructure components supporting agricultural cities, including agricultural processing centers, packaging facilities, cold storage units, renewable energy systems, water treatment solutions, as well as training and capacity-building centers. These elements collectively aim to improve productivity and generate added value.

Members of the Committee engaged in discussions with Ministry specialists on the regulatory and legislative framework governing the Ministry’s role within joint efforts, as well as mechanisms for defining responsibilities among relevant entities. They stressed the importance of clearly delineating institutional roles and enhancing coordination efficiency to expedite decision-making on cross-cutting issues. The discussion also addressed reference standards to be applied in cases where urban planning priorities may conflict with agricultural or water uses, ensuring balanced outcomes across sectors.

The meeting further reviewed the Ministry’s vision for developing smart infrastructure to support the establishment of integrated agricultural cities. Committee members discussed with Ministry specialists the components of this infrastructure and ways to integrate advanced technologies—such as precision agriculture, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence—into urban planning. Discussions also covered the management of vital resources, particularly water and energy, to enhance sustainability and operational efficiency. The readiness of existing infrastructure to accommodate these technologies, as well as existing gaps and the importance of building partnerships with technical and research institutions to develop innovative solutions, were also highlighted.

The Committee members discussed urban and regulatory incentives that could be offered to encourage private sector investment in smart agricultural cities. These include streamlining procedures and reducing the time required to obtain licenses, as well as activating public-private partnership (PPP) models to ensure the economic viability of such projects, while adhering to environmental and agricultural standards. The importance of leveraging market studies and assessing private sector interest to support informed decision-making was also emphasized.

The meeting also addressed key challenges facing the implementation of agricultural cities projects, including land allocation, financing and technical aspects, as well as institutional coordination among relevant entities.

The meeting was chaired by H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Malik Al Shuhi, Heaf Committee, and attended by Their Excellencies the Committee members.