Salma bint Hamdan Al Nahyan

Emirati environmentalist and philanthropist revolutionizing sustainable agriculture in arid regions

Salma bint Hamdan Al Nahyan (born 1975) is a UAE royal family member turned environmental pioneer who transformed desert farming through her Sahal Initiative. Her research in salt-tolerant crops led to the development of barley varieties that thrive in 15% salinity levels - a breakthrough for arid nations. She established the Barjeel Art Foundation to preserve Middle Eastern art while promoting eco-conscious architecture through her Green Emirates initiative that planted 10 million mangroves.

Al Nahyan's Desert Bloom project (2008) demonstrated viable crop yields in UAE's 50°C deserts using solar-powered irrigation. Her work with UNDP on water security has been replicated in 12 Arab countries. She founded the Women in Agriculture network training 5,000+ female farmers across North Africa, creating 1,200+ smallholder cooperatives.