Date: 26 Apr, 2026
Location: Al Ain - UAE
His Excellency Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), participated in the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2026, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The event was organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and took place from 22 to 26 April 2026 at the ADNEC Centre Al Ain.
H.E. Al Zaabi took part in the high-level panel discussion titled “Is Food Innovation a Government Priority or an Investment Opportunity?”, alongside H.E. Edward Hamad, Founder and CEO of Switch Foods, and H.E. Maaz Al Refai, Chief Executive Officer of Rawabi Emirates Group. The session was moderated by Eng. Amina Salem Al Ameri from the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority.
The discussion explored the future of food innovation in the United Arab Emirates, focusing on alternative proteins, advanced plant-based foods, and health-oriented food products, as well as emerging technologies supporting the sustainability of national protein production and diversification of food sources, in line with global transformations in the agri-food industry.
During his intervention, H.E. Dr. Al Zaabi emphasized that food innovation is no longer a complementary option but a critical intersection between government policy priorities and investment opportunities. He stressed the importance of accelerating investment into advanced agricultural and food technologies and strengthening value chains to build a more resilient and sustainable food system.
He noted that AAAID is actively working to transform innovation into scalable investment opportunities through integrated financing solutions, strategic partnerships, and private sector empowerment, thereby enhancing productivity and strengthening the competitiveness of the agri-food sector across the Arab region.
H.E. further highlighted the importance of public–private sector collaboration in accelerating the adoption of innovative solutions and facilitating access to finance, enabling the sector to grow and adapt to future challenges, particularly those linked to climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources.
He stated that the strategic challenge ahead lies not in isolated success stories, but in building an integrated Arab food industry capable of competing globally. In this regard, he underscored AAAID’s pivotal role in bridging investment opportunities with technical expertise and promoting knowledge transfer among Arab countries, leveraging the United Arab Emirates as a leading development model.
The participation comes amid growing regional focus on strengthening national food industries and enhancing value-added agricultural supply chains, with the conference highlighting the importance of improving local competitiveness and attracting investment into the agri-food sector as a key emerging economic driver.
Concluding his remarks, H.E. Al Zaabi reaffirmed that AAAID, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, will place food innovation at the core of its future strategy, supporting Arab food security and advancing sustainable agricultural development across the region.
