News » 14.07.2026 - The next gen of MENA greenhouses: Integration, automation, and efficiency.
Water management, automation and integrated climate systems are expected to shape the next generation of greenhouse developments across the Middle East and North Africa. Ihab Zamil of Jordan greenhouse manufacturer and turnkey key project constructor Rayyan says these factors are influencing both new investments and the design of commercial greenhouse facilities. "The projects are increasingly being planned as integrated systems that combine structure, climate control, irrigation, fertigation and data infrastructure, rather than as separate technical components added in phases."
Future of protected cultivation
Ihab explains that greenhouse developments are shifting toward designs that can accommodate automation from the outset. "The future of protected cultivation lies in integrated solutions. Greenhouse engineering needs to be combined with climate control, automated irrigation and fertigation, and automated shading and actuation systems. At more advanced levels, robotics and data-driven decision platforms will reduce variability, improve resource use efficiency and support remote operations."
Rayyan, also known as Jordan Greenhouses Manufacturing Co., is a family-owned company founded in 1980. The company operates as a turnkey provider for protected cultivation projects, covering greenhouse design, in-house fabrication, installation supervision, grower support and after-sales services. It is ISO 9001 certified. Last year, they realized 213 hectare of greenhouses, including turnkey facilities.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia remains a central market for greenhouse development, and for Rayyan specifically. This is linked to national food production targets under Vision 2030. Rayyan's activities in the country include turnkey greenhouse delivery, irrigation and fertigation systems, feasibility studies, installation supervision and maintenance services. Just like in the GCC and wider MENA region, Ihab sees a shift in its project scope toward fully integrated greenhouse systems.
Ihab sees new projects are increasingly considering modular automation and connectivity at the design stage. "This includes the integration of IoT sensor networks, crop models, analytics platforms and centralized control systems."
Over the next five years he expects greenhouse development in the region to place greater focus on water and energy systems. "We expect to see more desalination integration, saltwater cooling pilots, wastewater reuse and tighter fertigation control. Commercially financed greenhouse clusters and giga projects will contribute to standardization and supply chain development. Wider adoption of automation and data platforms will support yield optimization, labor substitution and predictive maintenance."
Irrigation and fertigation
Irrigation and fertigation systems are increasingly being combined with greenhouse structures within a single delivery scope. These systems are designed to support uniform water and nutrient application and reduce manual labor requirements. Water efficiency is incorporated into design considerations, particularly in regions facing limited water availability.
Technical planning is also becoming a required component of greenhouse project development alongside commercial planning. Ihab says: "The technical plan should address crop mix and yield targets, production challenges, energy and water requirements, logistics, structural reliability, irrigation and fertigation, climate control, energy-saving options, future expansion and possible contract farming models. Looking at these elements early helps manage operating costs and the return on investment."
Growers are expected to continue facing operational pressure from energy costs, labor availability and the scaling of production systems across larger greenhouse footprints. Driven by this, they notice a growing activity in Africa through local partnerships. Projects have been delivered in Djibouti, Rwanda and Libya. "We operate dependent on scope definition, adaptation to local regulations and site conditions, engineered integration of systems, project management and on-site supervision."
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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