Abdul Karim Al Humaidan

Saudi Arabian inventor revolutionizing desert agriculture through solar-powered vertical farming

Abdul Karim Al Humaidan: Greening the Desert

Abdul Karim Al Humaidan (b. 1990) is a Saudi Arabian engineer whose solar-powered vertical farming systems have transformed food production in arid regions. Founder of Green Arabia Innovations, he developed the first commercially viable vertical farm system operating entirely on renewable energy. His patented 'SunHarvest' technology combines solar energy storage with hydroponic systems, enabling crop yields 10x greater than traditional agriculture while using 90% less water.

Al Humaidan's 2021 launch of the DesertFarm 3000 system created the first profitable desert agriculture model in Saudi Arabia's Empty Quarter. His modular systems now operate in 12 Middle Eastern countries, producing 20,000 tons of vegetables annually. The UN FAO has adopted his design as a model for desertification projects in Africa and Australia.

A graduate of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), he mentors young innovators through the Khaleej Innovators Program. His TEDxRiyadh talk 'Growing Food Where the Sun Shines Hardest' has become a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture education globally.