AGRICULTURE

‘LIVESTOCK CITY’ MOVES SAUDI EVEN CLOSER TO FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY

A new livestock city will soon emerge in Saudi Arabia and is expected to be the largest in the Middle East.

The SAR 9 billion project is designed to support Saudi Arabia’s goals of achieving self-suffciency in livestock production and enhancing food security. Backed by the Hafr Al-Batin Livestock and Marketing Association, the project will be developed on an expansive 11-million-square-metre (sqm) site. Once operational, the project is expected to meet 30% of the kingdom’s demand for red meat and generate more than 13,000 jobs. 

The development will feature state-of-the-art livestock farms, fodder production plants, a veterinary hospital, and advanced meat processing facilities. Sustainability will be a core feature of the livestock city, with it being powered by renewable energy and generating 15 billion kilowatt hours of green electricity annually. The facility has the capacity to produce 140,000 litres of milk per day, and 100 tonnes of fodder per hour. It will also feature an automated abattoir spanning 170,000 sqm, contributing 1.5 million sqm of leather production each year. 

The kingdom has already seen significant increase in red meat production, reaching over 270,000 tonnes in 2023. This growth supports local production and strengthens food security, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the kingdom has achieved a 61% self-suffciency rate in red meat, reflecting ongoing eorts to boost domestic production and reduce import reliance. The country has been able to achieve that by supporting local breeders, and adopting advanced livestock production technologies, particularly to meet demands during Ramadan.

The livestock sector is a key driver of local market growth and food security. The kingdom's livestock inventory includes over 20.6 million sheep, 7.4 million goats, 502,000 cows, and 2.2 million camels.

DATE OUTPUT SOARS

Attention has also turned to agriculture with Ramadan in full swing. Saudi Arabia is now home to more than 123,000 agricultural holdings, boasting more than 37 million palm trees that yield over 3 billion tonnes of dates annually, according to the National Center for Palms and Dates (NCPD). 

In addition, the number of factories specialising in date products and manufacturing has exceeded 137. This comes as global demand for high-quality Saudi dates continues to rise from 579 million tonnes in 2016 to an estimated 1.5 billion tonnes in 2024, NCPD data shows. Saudi Arabia has achieved 119% self-suffciency in dates, strengthening its position as one of the largest producers and exporters of this product. 

PHOSPHATE PRODUCTION

The kingdom is strategically leveraging its vast phosphate reserves – recognised as a globally valuable resource – to strengthen agricultural production. Phosphate is a fundamental nutrient for plant growth, playing a vital role in root development, energy transfer, and cellular function. Phosphorus-rich fertilisers enhance crop yields by improving nutrient uptake, seed formation, and resistance to environmental stress. Given that many soils lack adequate natural phosphate levels, supplementing with phosphate-based fertilisers is crucial for sustaining high agricultural productivity and ensuring global food security. 

A cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s phosphate industry is Waad Al-Shamal Industrial City, a key hub driving the kingdom’s phosphate and wider mining ambitions. With investments exceeding SAR 80 billion, the industrial city underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing the mining sector as a pillar of sustainable economic growth. These eorts have positioned the country as the world’s second-largest phosphate exporter, transforming Waad Al-Shamal into an integrated industrial hub for mineral processing and fertiliser production.