Planning polyhouse farming in Al Ain? Al Ain is in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates[1]. This guide works from Al Ain's own monthly climate to suggest the protected structure, the crops to start with, and the months each crop is likely to do well.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Al Ain
July is the hottest month in Al Ain, with average daily highs of about 45°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 12°C.[2] Rain is scarce: about 64 mm a year. Water for the farm will come from a borewell, well, tanker or municipal supply, so test its salts (EC) and hardness before choosing the system. Al Ain sits about 292 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Al Ain falls in the hot desert zone (BWh).[3]
Al Ain climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
24.4
11.7
56
11
Feb
27.2
13.2
47
5
Mar
31.5
16.6
38
15
Apr
36.7
21.2
29
7
May
41.7
25.6
24
4
Jun
44.3
27.9
26
3
Jul
44.8
30.5
27
2
Aug
44.3
30.6
27
3
Sep
41.7
27.5
29
2
Oct
37.1
23.2
34
1
Nov
31.0
18.3
47
4
Dec
26.4
13.9
56
7
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Al Ain. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Al Ain
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Al Ain chilli pepper can be grown for about 9 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.
2
Better yield and price
Plants grow without rain, hail and wind damage, so yields are higher and more even, and clean, graded produce sells at a better price, especially off-season.
3
Less water
With only about 64 mm of rain a year here, drip irrigation under cover saves water: less is lost to evaporation and run-off than in the open field.
4
Less pesticides
Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, so you spray less often.
Which polyhouse suits Al Ain?
For polyhouse farming in Al Ain, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Al Ain comes with dry air. In May to September, average highs reach 45°C while average humidity is only about 27%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 45°C July afternoon down to roughly 32°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. For vine crops such as capsicum and cucumber, a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen works from November to February and costs less to run.
Sunlight peaks in June at about 7.6 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months. A nethouse, the lowest-cost option, can grow hardy crops in November to March, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Al Ain
Based on Al Ain's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (9 months), capsicum (8 months) and cucumber (8 months). Chilli pepper fits September to May with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Al Ain.
Months each crop suits in Al Ain
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Nov–Feb
Oct–May
Tomato
Nov–Feb
Oct–Apr
Cucumber
Mar and Nov–Dec
Mar–Jun and Sep–Dec
Chilli pepper
Nov–Mar
Sep–May
Brinjal
Mar and Nov–Dec
Mar–May and Sep–Dec
Lettuce
Dec–Feb
Oct–Apr
Broccoli
Difficult
Dec–Mar
Strawberry
Jan
Dec–Feb
Rose
Dec–Feb
Nov–Apr
Gerbera
Dec–Feb
Oct–Apr
Carnation
Jan
Dec–Mar
Chrysanthemum
Dec–Feb
Nov–Apr
Anthurium
Difficult
Mar–May and Sep–Nov
Orchids
Difficult
Mar–May and Sep–Nov
Lilium
Difficult
Dec–Mar
Kryzen planning estimate from the monthly averages above and each crop's usual day and night temperature range. Variety, soil or substrate temperature and shading change the result, so confirm with a trial.
Every project starts with your site data: plot size, water quality and the crops your buyers want. We review it with you online and prepare a project report before construction starts.
Towns near Al Ain
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Al Ain:
Yes, with the right structure. For Al Ain we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to September, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Al Ain?
With July highs of about 45°C and 27% average humidity in that month, we would start with a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Al Ain?
Going by the monthly climate, chilli pepper, capsicum and cucumber have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Discuss your Al Ain farm project
Share your plot location, water test and crop targets. We will suggest the right structure and growing system, and send an itemised quotation.
A computer engineer turned hydroponic farmer from a multigenerational farming family in Satara. Sudhir founded Kryzen in 2019, and the team has since built 350+ protected and hydroponic farms across India.
