Abdul Karim Al Khalidi

A Syrian-Lebanese inventor who revolutionized irrigation systems in arid regions during the mid-20th century

Abdul Karim Al Khalidi (1908-1978) developed the Rotating Sprinkler Irrigator in 1943 that transformed agriculture across the Middle East. His invention increased crop yields by 300% in Jordan's deserts. As a Syrian-Lebanese engineer, he established the Arab Agricultural Development Corporation in 1955, training 1,200 farmers in drip irrigation techniques. His 1962 manual 《Water Wisdom》 became the standard text for desert farming. Khalidi's 1968 solar-powered irrigation prototype at the Dubai Institute predated modern solar tech by decades. His work enabled UAE's first commercial date farms, now a $2B industry. The Khalidi Efficiency Index remains a benchmark in sustainable agriculture.