UAE Agriculture Films Market Overview, 2030

The agriculture films market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has evolved steadily over the past three decades, driven by the country’s need to enhance agricultural productivity, conserve water resources, and support food security in a region characterized by arid climatic conditions and limited arable land. Initial adoption in the 1990s focused on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films for open-field mulching, particularly in the northern emirates and Abu Dhabi, to improve soil moisture retention, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth for vegetables, fruits, and fodder crops. During the early 2000s, greenhouse farming began expanding rapidly, fueled by government initiatives promoting controlled-environment agriculture and technological innovation. Multilayer polyethylene and EVA/EBA copolymer films became increasingly popular, offering enhanced light diffusion, UV resistance, thermal insulation, and durability, enabling year-round cultivation of high-value crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and leafy greens for domestic consumption and export. Silage films also gained prominence to preserve forage quality for livestock in regions with limited natural pasture. Technological advancements, including UV stabilization, multilayer extrusion, and smart film development, have further improved film performance under the UAE’s harsh climatic conditions characterized by high temperatures, intense sunlight, and aridity. Government programs and subsidies have encouraged the adoption of water-efficient farming techniques, greenhouse expansion, and sustainable agricultural practices, including the gradual introduction of biodegradable films. Today, the UAE agriculture films market represents a technologically advanced and innovation-driven segment, balancing traditional polyethylene use for cost-effective mulching with high-performance greenhouse and silage applications, supporting increased agricultural output, water-use efficiency, and alignment with national food security and sustainability goals.

According to the research report ""UAE Agriculture Films Market Overview, 2030,”published by Bonafide Research, the UAE Agriculture Films market is anticipated to grow at more than 8.92% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. The regulatory and environmental framework governing agriculture films in the UAE is shaped by national policies on plastic usage, environmental sustainability, and agricultural efficiency. The UAE enforces strict regulations on plastic waste management, including restrictions on single-use plastics, with local authorities promoting recycling and proper disposal of agricultural plastics to mitigate environmental impact. Biodegradable and compostable standards are gradually being introduced, influenced by international frameworks such as the EU Green Deal and US EPA guidelines, and adapted locally to support sustainable farming practices. Government subsidies and policy incentives play a key role in promoting the adoption of agriculture films, particularly in controlled-environment agriculture. Programs by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) encourage farmers and agribusinesses to implement water-efficient and high-productivity practices, including the use of advanced polyethylene and biodegradable films for greenhouse cultivation, mulching, and silage. Additionally, initiatives support the import and local production of eco-friendly films, providing financial and technical assistance for innovation in sustainable agricultural materials. Waste management and circular economy practices are increasingly emphasized, with collection and recycling schemes for used films being piloted across farming zones, aiming to reduce landfill disposal and promote resource recovery. Partnerships between government authorities, private companies, and agricultural cooperatives are fostering the development of closed-loop systems for film reuse and recycling. Overall, the UAE regulatory and environmental landscape for agriculture films reflects a balance between promoting technological adoption and innovation in agriculture, ensuring environmental stewardship, and aligning with national sustainability objectives and food security strategies.

In the UAE, the agriculture films market is predominantly driven by polyethylene-based materials, with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounting for the majority of usage due to their cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and suitability across greenhouse, mulching, and silage applications. LDPE is widely used for open-field mulching in key agricultural regions such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah, where it helps retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weed growth, thereby improving yields for crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, leafy greens, and fodder crops. LLDPE is extensively employed in greenhouse coverings and silage films, offering superior tensile strength, puncture resistance, and durability under the UAE’s arid climatic conditions, characterized by high temperatures, intense sunlight, and low humidity. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is utilized in specialized applications requiring rigidity and chemical resistance, including heavy-duty silage wraps, protective covers, and irrigation-related infrastructure. EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) and EBA (ethylene-butyl acrylate) copolymers are increasingly adopted in premium greenhouse films due to their enhanced light diffusion, elasticity, UV resistance, and thermal insulation, supporting year-round cultivation of high-value crops. Reclaims, or recycled polyethylene films, are gradually being introduced in cost-sensitive applications, supported by emerging recycling initiatives, though their usage in high-performance applications remains limited. Other specialty materials, including biodegradable and compostable films, are slowly gaining adoption, encouraged by government incentives and sustainability programs. Overall, material usage in the UAE balances cost-efficiency, performance, and environmental considerations, supporting modern, technologically advanced, and sustainable agricultural practices.

In the UAE, agriculture films are widely applied across greenhouse, mulching, and silage segments, reflecting the country’s focus on enhancing crop productivity, optimizing water use, and supporting modern farming practices in an arid environment. Greenhouse films account for a significant portion of demand, particularly in regions such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah, where controlled-environment agriculture enables year-round cultivation of high-value vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens for domestic consumption and export. Advanced multilayer polyethylene and EVA/EBA copolymer films are extensively used in greenhouses due to their superior light transmission, thermal insulation, UV resistance, and mechanical strength, helping maintain optimal growing conditions under high temperatures and intense sunlight. Mulching films are widely adopted in open-field cultivation across arid and semi-arid zones, helping conserve soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth, thereby increasing yields and reducing irrigation needs for crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and fodder crops. The adoption of biodegradable mulching films is gradually increasing, encouraged by government initiatives, sustainability programs, and rising environmental awareness, although conventional polyethylene remains dominant due to cost efficiency. Silage films are essential in livestock-intensive areas for preserving forage quality, minimizing spoilage, and maintaining nutrition during storage. Farmers increasingly use multilayer silage wraps and oxygen barrier films to enhance durability and storage performance under the UAE’s harsh climatic conditions. Overall, the application landscape demonstrates a strategic balance: greenhouse films support high-value, technologically advanced cultivation; mulching films optimize open-field productivity and water-use efficiency; and silage films ensure livestock feed preservation, collectively sustaining agricultural productivity, efficiency, and environmental compliance.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Agriculture Films Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Material
• LDPE
• LLDPE
• HDPE
• EVA/EBA
• Reclaims
• Others

BY Application
• Green house
• Mulching
• Silage Show more