![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GKX5VF6ME2J64C7GOWAXWF32BU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6854b426b8b32c8726693d0b0740b2483865ed86811561adfbc28c71dc722f0&width=400&height=225)
Salmon is one of the top four most popular types of fish consumed in the UAE, along with hammour, sea bream and sea bass.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/COY7WCWPOFNXKVHNPOK6YACKCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1dafb722203f4a2aa4482b0d139b247f0b8288dca9a341155344647454ec2dfe&width=400&height=225)
Bader Bin Mubarak, the chief executive of Fish Farm: 'We’ve made salmon in the desert, it’s pretty remarkable.' All photos by Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FONLKTYTNHLRJYGPHRPB5QF27A.jpg?smart=true&auth=0bd3f9fda83fa377df64b54dba84a262204b171af8c884e865094bea82cbfac9&width=400&height=225)
A tank of UAE-reared salmon at Dubai-based company Fish Farm's facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone. In November 2017, Fish Farm relocated some 40,000 baby salmon to Dubai from remote seas off Scotland.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/56P6U73ZU4SJM7E4Q7NHCZW36Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a11b0b4810433d888d702c0d02249cfd576800dad67051025e7f4ae1f27efb81&width=400&height=225)
Hundreds of salmon swim inside one of the tanks at Fish Farm's base in Dubai. The company, which also produces hammour, sea bream, sea bass and shrimp, has 34 tanks at its Jebel Ali facility, four of which are used for salmon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P4U6Q2Y424YEYCKGRLK5EMQ3TA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f96a5e626791ec2f6c5a28e8e52be96e8fec226c9be7ae39864be44984d1417&width=400&height=225)
The salmon is farmed to market size, which is 3-5 kilograms.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GKNU4CM3I2BCGV5FKS4VSNDBW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=12f299955aaa15a8aa616ef1f224184d4d7b644d77cf6e04aa81dcf0ec8a421f&width=400&height=225)
From 2020, Fish Farm will sell the first salmon that are 100 per cent born and bred in the UAE, as eggs from the current stock have hatched and the fish are being reared to market size.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5J45NTDBZGQQV7FR43PVTFNJEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=25fb0b5b4e776c424eabf24a97d5bd6dcd239607413196fa54e25aa8ff0510ed&width=400&height=225)
Fish Farm has created artificial habitats for the fish to thrive – from a freshwater ‘river’ tank three metres deep, to a six-metre-deep saltwater ‘ocean’, with automatic transfer pumps connecting each tank.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIKP7RSNGJXYJD4Q5QOYN2FMAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ffb23e840b3cd523e0f9e781083bf9936dc6606cd469fdfa3a000ab4b4f54e5e&width=400&height=225)
A water treatment plant at Fish Farm's facility. The company has invested in technology and infrastructure to control water salinity, depth and temperature, and even introduce currents and artificial weather conditions in the tanks.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KANWKWZM74KRW4NGLTMYHXHHRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=53772273b42e2f927018da15107cdf83f7649965169babd11895f73c64acb4d0&width=400&height=225)
Bader Al Mubarak, chief executive of Dubai’s Fish Farm, holds a salmon fish at the company's headquarters in Jebel Ali. Mr Al Mubarak is also deputy chairman of Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GKX5VF6ME2J64C7GOWAXWF32BU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6854b426b8b32c8726693d0b0740b2483865ed86811561adfbc28c71dc722f0&width=400&height=225)
Salmon is one of the top four most popular types of fish consumed in the UAE, along with hammour, sea bream and sea bass.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/COY7WCWPOFNXKVHNPOK6YACKCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1dafb722203f4a2aa4482b0d139b247f0b8288dca9a341155344647454ec2dfe&width=400&height=225)
Bader Bin Mubarak, the chief executive of Fish Farm: 'We’ve made salmon in the desert, it’s pretty remarkable.' All photos by Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FONLKTYTNHLRJYGPHRPB5QF27A.jpg?smart=true&auth=0bd3f9fda83fa377df64b54dba84a262204b171af8c884e865094bea82cbfac9&width=400&height=225)
A tank of UAE-reared salmon at Dubai-based company Fish Farm's facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone. In November 2017, Fish Farm relocated some 40,000 baby salmon to Dubai from remote seas off Scotland.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/56P6U73ZU4SJM7E4Q7NHCZW36Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a11b0b4810433d888d702c0d02249cfd576800dad67051025e7f4ae1f27efb81&width=400&height=225)
Hundreds of salmon swim inside one of the tanks at Fish Farm's base in Dubai. The company, which also produces hammour, sea bream, sea bass and shrimp, has 34 tanks at its Jebel Ali facility, four of which are used for salmon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P4U6Q2Y424YEYCKGRLK5EMQ3TA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f96a5e626791ec2f6c5a28e8e52be96e8fec226c9be7ae39864be44984d1417&width=400&height=225)
The salmon is farmed to market size, which is 3-5 kilograms.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GKNU4CM3I2BCGV5FKS4VSNDBW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=12f299955aaa15a8aa616ef1f224184d4d7b644d77cf6e04aa81dcf0ec8a421f&width=400&height=225)
From 2020, Fish Farm will sell the first salmon that are 100 per cent born and bred in the UAE, as eggs from the current stock have hatched and the fish are being reared to market size.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5J45NTDBZGQQV7FR43PVTFNJEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=25fb0b5b4e776c424eabf24a97d5bd6dcd239607413196fa54e25aa8ff0510ed&width=400&height=225)
Fish Farm has created artificial habitats for the fish to thrive – from a freshwater ‘river’ tank three metres deep, to a six-metre-deep saltwater ‘ocean’, with automatic transfer pumps connecting each tank.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIKP7RSNGJXYJD4Q5QOYN2FMAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ffb23e840b3cd523e0f9e781083bf9936dc6606cd469fdfa3a000ab4b4f54e5e&width=400&height=225)
A water treatment plant at Fish Farm's facility. The company has invested in technology and infrastructure to control water salinity, depth and temperature, and even introduce currents and artificial weather conditions in the tanks.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KANWKWZM74KRW4NGLTMYHXHHRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=53772273b42e2f927018da15107cdf83f7649965169babd11895f73c64acb4d0&width=400&height=225)
Bader Al Mubarak, chief executive of Dubai’s Fish Farm, holds a salmon fish at the company's headquarters in Jebel Ali. Mr Al Mubarak is also deputy chairman of Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GKX5VF6ME2J64C7GOWAXWF32BU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6854b426b8b32c8726693d0b0740b2483865ed86811561adfbc28c71dc722f0&width=400&height=225)
Salmon is one of the top four most popular types of fish consumed in the UAE, along with hammour, sea bream and sea bass.
Desert salmon farming becomes reality for Dubai-based company
Fish Farm will bring home-grown salmon to the UAE's supermarkets and restaurants from next month, with positive implications for food security
Sarah Townsend
28 March, 2019
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