Saudi Arabia to build Middle East’s largest livestock city in Hafr Al Batin

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia is set to bolster its agricultural sector by creating the largest livestock city in the Middle East, slated for Hafr Al Batin in the Eastern Province. 

Unveiled during the Hafr Al Batin Investment Forum 2025, this ambitious SAR9 billion (US$2.4 billion) project is designed to bolster the Kingdom’s food security and reduce reliance on imports.  

The state-of-the-art livestock city is expected to meet 30% of Saudi Arabia’s red meat demand. 

The sprawling development will house facilities for raising livestock, feed production, a veterinary hospital, and meat processing plants. 

Powered by renewable energy, the site will feature solar panels capable of generating 15 billion kilowatt-hours annually, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sustainable development.  

Once operational, the project will produce 140,000 litres of milk daily, consume 100 tons of feed per hour, and generate 1.5 million square meters of leather annually. 

It will also create over 13,000 jobs in the Hafr Al Batin governorate, significantly boosting the local economy.  

The Hafr Al Batin livestock city is part of a broader regional development plan launched by the Eastern Province Development Authority. 

This master plan aims to attract SAR47 billion in investments, with a focus on private sector contributions. Seven agreements worth SAR17 billion were signed at the forum to advance these goals.  

Saudi Arabia, which imports approximately 80% of its food, views the project as a critical component of its Vision 2030 strategy to achieve greater self-sufficiency in food production. 

In 2023, the agriculture sector contributed a record SAR109 billion to the national economy, highlighting its growing importance.  

According to Malachy Mitchell, co-founder of agribusiness consultancy Farrelly Mitchell, the Hafr Al Batin project could generate US$2.3 billion in annual value chain revenues based on domestic red meat prices. 

Additionally, the facility will produce 53 million litres of milk annually, paving the way for localised production of value-added dairy products such as sheep and goat cheeses.  

This transformative initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s determination to address its SAR37 (approximately US$10) billion funding gap in the agriculture sector and secure a sustainable future for its food systems. 

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