Saudi agri-food output exceeds 16m tons in 2024: MEWA

Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) headquarters

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) said total agricultural and food production exceeded 16 million tons in 2024, lifting the sector’s contribution to GDP to about $31.5 billion (SAR 118.1 billion).

Speaking at the Saudi Agriculture Exhibition 2025 (Oct. 20–23), Ali Al-Zahrani, Head of National Agriculture Strategy implementation, said the ministry has launched 38 national initiatives under the strategy. The sector has delivered strong gains, with a five-year CAGR of more than 7% in agricultural GDP. Efficient irrigation systems cut the use of non-renewable water in farming by 52% versus 2016, while concessional loans from the Agricultural Development Fund increased by over $1.9 billion.

Al-Zahrani highlighted private-sector opportunities across crop and livestock production, including integrated seedling and seed projects; fruit and vegetable production and processing; intensive livestock farming; aquaculture; and large-scale poultry production for cuts.

He added that domestic fruit output surpassed 2.9 million tons (including dates), with 64% self-sufficiency, relying mainly on open-field systems alongside notable expansion in shaded-house farming. Local vegetable production exceeded 3.5 million tons, achieving 78% self-sufficiency.