FAQ

About UNS Farms

What is UNS Farms and what makes it different?

UNS Farms is the UAE's first commercial-scale vertical farm — not just a reseller or import business, but an actual growing operation based in Dubai. We design, build, and operate our own controlled-environment farming facilities, producing fresh, pesticide-free, locally grown produce year-round. That direct control over how food is grown, harvested, and delivered is what sets us apart from conventional suppliers who buy from international markets and warehouse imported stock. We are a division of Speedex Group, which has operated in the UAE for over 35 years.

What exactly does "UAE-grown" mean for UNS Farms products?

Products labelled UAE-grown or Grown by UNS Farms are physically cultivated in our Dubai facility from seed to harvest. This includes our full microgreens range, herbs, edible flowers, salad mixes, leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, and other produce grown in our controlled vertical farming environment. Some products in our wider range — such as fruits, imported vegetables, butchery, and honey — are sourced from trusted international suppliers rather than grown on-site, and these are clearly distinguished.

How long has UNS Farms been operating?

UNS Farms is a division of Speedex Group, which has been operating in the UAE for over 35 years. UNS Farms was established to leverage that operational expertise specifically in the field of sustainable, technology-driven agriculture and food production.

Is UNS Farms only a farm, or do you also sell other products?

Both. Our core business is growing fresh produce in our Dubai vertical farm and supplying it directly to consumers and businesses. We also curate a wider range of complementary premium food products — including halal butchery, poultry, organic eggs, dairy, specialty honey, and grocery staples — from trusted suppliers who meet our quality and certification standards. Everything we sell meets the same quality bar we hold our own produce to.

How We Grow

What is controlled-environment agriculture and why does it matter for food quality?

Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) means every aspect of our growing conditions — temperature, humidity, light spectrum, nutrient delivery, CO₂ levels — is precisely managed and monitored around the clock using IoT sensors and AI-assisted systems. Nothing is left to chance or weather. The practical result: every batch of produce is grown to exactly the same standard, every single time. There are no bad seasons, no weather-damaged crops, and no variation in quality between your order this week and your order next month.

Why does UNS Farms use 95% less water than conventional farming?

In conventional soil farming, a large proportion of irrigation water is lost to evaporation, runoff, and absorption beyond the root zone. Our hydroponic systems deliver water and nutrients directly to plant roots in a closed-loop recirculating system — virtually nothing is wasted. In a country where freshwater is one of the most precious resources, this isn't just an environmental choice; it's the responsible way to grow food in the UAE.

Does pesticide-free mean the same as organic?

Not exactly, and the distinction matters. Pesticide-free means we use zero chemical pesticides at any stage of growing — our controlled environments eliminate the pest pressure that makes pesticides necessary in open-field farming. Organic certification is a formal third-party accreditation process with its own standards. All UNS-grown produce is pesticide-free and non-GMO. Select products in our wider range hold formal organic certification, which is indicated on each product listing.

Can vertical farming really produce enough food to matter at scale?

At UNS Farms we operate at commercial scale — supplying not just individual consumers but hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and catering companies across the UAE. Our facility produces consistent volumes year-round, independent of season or external supply disruptions. Vertical farming won't replace all conventional agriculture, but for high-value, perishable produce like microgreens, herbs, salads, and leafy greens — crops where freshness and food safety matter most — it is already proven at commercial scale.

Products & Quality

What are microgreens and why are they more nutritious than regular vegetables?

Microgreens are young vegetable seedlings harvested at 7–14 days of growth, just after the first true leaves have developed. At this stage, the plant has concentrated the nutrients it needs for full growth into a very small amount of biomass — studies show microgreens can contain 4 to 40 times the nutrient density of their mature counterparts. UNS Farms grows over 45 varieties including broccoli cress (particularly high in sulforaphane), radish, pea tendrils, wheatgrass, rainbow mix, and specialty edible flower varieties for culinary use.

What is Yemeni Sidr honey and why is it so expensive?

Sidr honey is produced from the blossoms of the Ziziphus (Sidr) tree in Yemen's Hadhramaut valley — one of the most remote, pristine honey-producing regions in the world. The Sidr tree flowers only twice a year, and access to these areas is difficult, making genuine Yemeni Sidr one of the rarest and most limited honey varieties on earth. Its thick, amber consistency, complex flavour profile, and centuries-long reputation for natural wellness properties make it the benchmark honey for collectors and connoisseurs across the Arab world. We source authentic, single-origin Yemeni Sidr — not blended or diluted variants.

What is the difference between Australian Wagyu and regular beef?

Wagyu cattle produce beef with a significantly higher intramuscular fat content (marbling) than standard breeds, resulting in a richer flavour, more tender texture, and a lower melting point. Australian Wagyu is grain-fed for 400+ days — longer than standard beef — which intensifies marbling and flavour development. Our Australian Wagyu cuts are sourced from Stockyard, one of Australia's most respected Wagyu producers, and are halal certified, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free.

How do I know your halal certification is genuine?

All meat and poultry in our range is certified halal by recognised certifying bodies. Certification covers the full process — from the animal's raising and feed through to slaughter and handling. Our butchery products are also handled under HACCP and ISO 22000 certified protocols, which means food safety and religious compliance are both independently verified, not self-declared.

What fresh produce do UAE hotels and restaurants typically order from UNS Farms?

Our most popular B2B products with hospitality clients include our full microgreens range (particularly broccoli cress, pea tendrils, and edible flowers for plating), baby leaf salad mixes, fresh herbs including UAE-grown basil, thyme, rosemary, and spearmint, UAE-grown cherry tomatoes, and our premium butchery range including Wagyu, Black Angus, and Dutch milk-fed veal. Chefs choose us primarily for consistency, food safety certification, and the ability to source hard-to-find specialty varieties reliably.

Delivery & Freshness

How fresh is produce when it arrives — what does "farm-fresh" actually mean at UNS Farms?

For our UAE-grown products, harvest-to-door time is typically within 24 hours. We harvest, pack, and dispatch on the same day for most fresh produce. This is a fundamental difference from imported produce, which is typically harvested days or weeks before it reaches you — picked early to survive transit, not at peak ripeness. When you order our cherry tomatoes or microgreens, they were growing in our Dubai farm the day before they arrive at your door.

What areas does UNS Farms deliver to?

We deliver to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, and across the wider UAE. Next-day delivery is our standard. Free delivery is available on orders over 299 AED in Abu Dhabi and Ajman. Check the delivery information at checkout for your specific area.

What happens if my order arrives damaged or below standard?

We stand behind the freshness and quality of every order. If something arrives below standard, contact our customer service team immediately with a photo and we will resolve it promptly — either with a replacement or a refund. We take quality seriously because our reputation depends on it.

B2B & Wholesale

What is the minimum order for B2B wholesale customers?

Contact our wholesale team to discuss your specific requirements. We structure supply agreements based on your volume needs, delivery frequency, and product mix — whether you're a small café or a large hotel group. There's no one-size-fits-all minimum; we work with you to build a practical supply model.

Can UNS Farms supply produce with specific certifications required by our hotel or retail chain?

Yes. Our core growing operations are certified to HACCP and ISO 22000, and we hold an EcoVadis sustainability rating. If your procurement team requires specific documentation, certificates of analysis, or supplier audit information, our B2B team can provide this as part of onboarding a trade account.

Does UNS Farms offer custom growing programmes for specific produce requirements?

For large B2B clients with specific varietal or volume requirements, we can discuss custom growing arrangements through our farm development team. Contact us directly to explore what's possible for your operation.

Sustainability & UAE Food Security

How does buying from UNS Farms support UAE food security?

The UAE currently imports approximately 80% of its food — a dependency that creates vulnerability to global supply disruptions, shipping delays, and price volatility. Every purchase from UNS Farms supports local food production, reduces import dependency, and contributes to building a more resilient national food system. This is directly aligned with UAE Vision 2031 and the national food security strategy, which identifies increasing local food production as a strategic priority.

What is UNS Farms doing about carbon footprint and environmental impact?

Three areas stand out. First, local production eliminates the carbon footprint of long-haul food imports — your produce isn't flying or shipping from Europe, South America, or Southeast Asia. Second, our farms use 95% less water than conventional agriculture, critical in a region with severe freshwater scarcity. Third, pesticide-free growing eliminates chemical runoff that damages soil and water systems. We are assessed and rated by EcoVadis, an independent sustainability rating platform, for our environmental and responsible business practices.

Farm Tours

What will I learn on a UNS Farms farm tour that I can't learn from a video or article?

The most valuable part of the farm tour is seeing an actual commercial-scale vertical farm in operation — not a demonstration model or a showroom. You walk through live growing racks, see produce at different stages of growth, understand the technology that controls the growing environment, and meet the team that runs it daily. For school groups, this connects curriculum content on sustainability, biology, and food systems to a real, working example in the UAE. For corporate groups, it's a genuine insight into how modern food production is evolving.

How do I book a farm tour?

Visit our Farm Tours page to book directly, or contact us for group, school, or corporate bookings. We offer tailored tour experiences depending on the size and interests of your party. Tours are available for families, school groups, universities, and corporate teams at our Dubai facility.