Morocco is set to receive a new US$38.1 million agricultural investment from UAE-based Elite Agro Holding, which plans to develop a 400-hectare farm focused on high-value fruit production for domestic and export markets.
The project, to be developed under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), will be located in Sidi Yehia and is expected to become Elite Agro’s eighth farm in Morocco. The agreement, announced during Global Food Week 2026 in Abu Dhabi, commits AED 140 million (approximately $38.1 million) to the development.
The proposed farm will cultivate blueberries, mandarins and avocados, extending the company’s existing fruit production portfolio. These crops serve both domestic consumers and international markets, positioning the investment within Morocco’s wider export-oriented horticulture sector.
The announcement comes as Elite Agro expands its footprint in Morocco. In June 2026, the company inaugurated a 200-hectare farm in Kenitra dedicated to blueberries and raspberries, which it described as its seventh farm in the country. The company has reported that its direct investments in Morocco exceeded AED 500 million (approximately $136.1 million) by that point and had contributed to more than 8,000 jobs. Those figures are company-reported.
Through its Moroccan subsidiary, Elite Harvest Maroc, the group operates across several production locations, including Kenitra, Sidi Yehia, Fez, Beni Mellal, Sefrou, Marrakech and Benslimane. Its crop portfolio includes berries, pomegranates, pears, apples, stone fruits, grapes, citrus fruits and other produce. The new project would broaden this production base, particularly through the addition of mandarins and avocados alongside blueberries.
The Moroccan agreement forms part of a wider AED 660 million (approximately $179.7 million) agricultural investment package announced across Morocco, Mauritania and the UAE. Of that amount, AED 440 million (about $119.8 million) is allocated to the Aftout/Rosso agricultural project in Mauritania, spanning approximately 8,900 hectares. That project is expected to produce around 244,000 tonnes of agricultural products for local consumption and export to neighbouring markets. A separate AED 80 million (about $21.8 million) investment will support a 25-hectare blueberry farm in Al Ain, UAE.
The agreements reflect a broader push to combine agricultural capital, technical expertise and production capacity across markets. For Morocco, further investment in commercial fruit farming could expand production, support employment and create opportunities in packaging, cold storage, transport and export logistics.
However, the commercial outcome will depend on implementation. The MoU establishes the proposed investment, but the announcement does not specify a construction timetable, expected annual output, employment targets or the projected start of commercial production. Those details will be important in assessing the project’s eventual contribution to Morocco’s agricultural economy.
The crop mix also brings practical considerations. Blueberries and avocados can offer access to valuable export markets, but both require careful water management, suitable growing conditions, and reliable post-harvest handling. Mandarins add another crop category, potentially broadening production and market opportunities. The farm’s long-term performance will depend on how effectively these crops are managed and marketed.
NBF Insight
Elite Agro’s planned Sidi Yehia farm illustrates how cross-border investment is helping expand commercial horticulture in North Africa. The headline figure is significant, but the project’s real value will be measured by productive hectares established, crop yields, jobs sustained, export earnings and the benefits generated for surrounding communities.
For Morocco, the next milestones to watch are the start of development, confirmed production targets, water-use arrangements and the farm’s eventual contribution to domestic supply and export markets. Until those details emerge, the investment should be treated as a substantial commitment to planned agricultural expansion, not yet as realised production or export growth.
