Growing Dreams: How Hassan Halawy and Elite Agro Projects Are Transforming Agriculture Through Innovation

But at Elite Agro Projects, General Manager Hassan Halawy is taking these challenges in stride, leading a transformation in farming that blends tradition with modern solutions.

Hassan’s journey into agriculture began far from the arid landscapes of the UAE, rooted in the green fields of Nigeria, where he first worked after graduating in agricultural engineering from the American University in Beirut. Drawn to farming by its promise of nurturing growth and facing down challenges, Hassan eventually brought his expertise to the UAE in 2003. By 2020, as the GM of Elite Agro Projects, he had set his sights on something bigger: creating a farm model that not only survives in harsh desert conditions but thrives—proving that sustainable, profitable farming is possible in one of the world’s most challenging climates.

Moving from the coolness of an air-conditioned car into Abu Dhabi's arid heat, and finally into the humid embrace of the nethouse, was a striking transition. The moment we entered we could feel, and almost taste the moisture that was in the air, it was like walking in a raincloud. Hassan explains how this humidity is a deliberate choice, designed to mimic a natural, nurturing environment where figs and tomatoes can grow robustly and cool the nethouse, as temperatures soar above 50°C outside. Hassan reflects with a smile, knowing that every degree of temperature and every drop of water is part of the delicate balance they maintain daily.

At Elite Agro Projects, they’ve introduced retractable-roof nethouses that protect crops from intense sunlight while conserving energy and water. One of Hassan’s proudest accomplishments is the Elite Smart Farm, a fully contained farm housed within a 40-foot container, powered by solar energy. This ingenious solution, manufactured right in the UAE, offers remote farmers in Africa a sustainable farming option. Complete with cold storage and automated irrigation, the Smart Farm is a lifeline for areas where access to water and electricity can be scarce. “It's designed to overcome issues such as being off the grid, shortage of water supply, and access to agriculture extension services.” This farm-in-a-box is a game changer and extension of knowledge to places that need it most.

Navigating the swift currents of horticultural innovation, for Hassan, keeping up with technology is both a challenge and a necessity. Immersing himself in data science, he underscores Elite Agro Projects' tech investments, eyeing a future where machine learning and artificial intelligence predict the best conditions for crops.

Water, especially, is a precious resource in the UAE, and Hassan’s approach is one of careful stewardship. With Elite Agro’s use of hydroponics and controlled environment agriculture, they’re able to grow more while using less—a necessity in one of the driest regions in the world. Every drop matters.

On a day-to-day level, technology has transformed the way Elite Agro operates. With Priva’s climate and irrigation systems, Hassan and his team can monitor conditions around the clock. He describes how connectivity and IoT devices allow them to oversee multiple sites at once, something that wasn’t possible before. Connectivity has redefined the profession, making operations more efficient and streamlined.

At the heart of Elite Agro Projects, though, is Hassan’s dedication to making farming resilient, connected, and resourceful. His goal is to create a farm that can not only withstand the heat and scarcity of Abu Dhabi but serve as a model for sustainable agriculture worldwide.