Bustanica
Bustanica operates the world's largest indoor vertical farm in Dubai, producing over 1 million kg of pesticide-free leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens annually for UAE consumers, retailers (Spinneys, Carrefour, Waitrose), quick-commerce (Noon Minutes), and B2B customers including Emirates airline catering and Costa Coffee UAE, as a subsidiary of Emirates Flight Catering.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersDubai, United Arab Emirates
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bustanica does
Bustanica, legally Emirates Bustanica LLC, operates the world's largest indoor vertical farm from a 330,000 sq.ft facility spanning three floors at Dubai World Central, near Al Maktoum International Airport. Founded in 2022 as a joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering and Crop One (then known as Emirates Crop One), the company became a fully UAE-owned subsidiary of Emirates Flight Catering Co. LLC on 19 February 2024 following EKFC's full acquisition of the venture. Bustanica grows leafy greens, herbs, microgreens, and edible flowers using hydroponic vertical farming with AI/ML-driven climate control, closed-loop precision irrigation, LED-optimized lighting, and a modular grow architecture (27 Modular Grow Units of 550 sq.m each, plus 2 Plant Development Units), enabling over 1 million kg of produce per year using approximately 95% less water than traditional farming and zero pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
The product portfolio spans approximately 10 core SKUs (Crunchy Romaine, Spring Mix, Everyday Mix, Power Blend, Crunchy Leaf, Kale, Spinach, Parsley, Edible Flowers, and microgreens) plus seasonal lines such as the Ramadan Mix and value-added co-developed products including cold-pressed juices with Essentially and frozen ice lollies with House of Pops. Bustanica operates a hybrid go-to-market model: B2C through major UAE supermarket chains (Spinneys, Carrefour, Waitrose, Choithrams, Union Cooperative, Grandiose), online retailers (Kibsons, Instashop), and a 15-minute delivery partnership with Noon Minutes; and B2B through direct supply to Emirates airline catering, Costa Coffee UAE grab-and-go salads, and on-site microgreen growing at fine-dining venues such as Bull & Bear (Waldorf Astoria DIFC), supported by an extensive food service distributor network (Barakat, Fresh on Table, Mirak/NRTC, Al Dar Hospitality, Boga, ERTH Hospitality, Gates Hospitality, among others). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set by individual retail partners; revenue is generated transactionally across fresh produce sales, B2B supply contracts, and royalty/co-development value-added lines.
The company's strategic positioning aligns explicitly with the UAE's National Food Strategy 2051 and Water Security Strategy 2036, leveraging its Emirates Group ownership for distribution, brand endorsement by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and sustained recognition including the Gulfood 2025 Best Innovation Award and five 2024 Transform MENA Awards. Geographic operations remain confined to the UAE single-country market.
Bustanica firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bustanica
- Legal name
- Emirates Bustanica LLC
- Website
- https://bustanica.ae
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Bustanica operates the world's largest indoor vertical farm in Dubai, producing over 1 million kg of pesticide-free leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens annually for UAE consumers, retailers (Spinneys, Carrefour, Waitrose), quick-commerce (Noon Minutes), and B2B customers including Emirates airline catering and Costa Coffee UAE, as a subsidiary of Emirates Flight Catering.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bustanica industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indoor Vertical Farming
- NAICS
- Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419), Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms) (AFAGAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA), Greenhouse Herb & Microgreens Production (Culinary Herbs, Microgreens) (AFAGAHAC), Hydroponic / Controlled-Environment Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAM)
Keywords
Where Bustanica is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dubai
- HQ country
- United Arab Emirates
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bustanica business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fresh Produce Sales (B2C): Direct sales of leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens to retail consumers through major supermarket chains (Spinneys, Carrefour, Waitrose, Choithrams, Union Cooperative, Grandiose) and online platforms (Kibsons, Instashop). Products include Crunchy Romaine, Spring Mix, Everyday Mix, Power Blend, Crunchy Leaf, Kale, Spinach, Parsley, and Edible Flowers.
- B2B Food Service Supply: Supply of fresh produce to airline catering (Emirates flights), restaurants, hotels, and quick-service chains including Costa Coffee UAE. Expanding beyond airline meals to include ready-to-eat salads, sandwiches, soups, and retail juice lines.
- Value-Added Products: Production of cold-pressed juices (Forever Green and Heart Beet) through Essentially partnership, and frozen popsicles through House of Pops collaboration. Transform surplus harvests into nutritious snacks (Heart Beet Crackers).
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Bustanica product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bustanica operates an indoor vertical farm that grows hydroponic leafy greens, herbs, microgreens, and edible flowers year-round in a controlled environment near Al Maktoum City, Dubai. It sells its produce under the Bustanica brand to UAE retail chains, online grocery platforms, and food-service customers including Emirates Flight Catering. The farm's output is positioned as pesticide-free, locally grown, and water-efficient.
Product overview
Bustanica is the world's largest indoor vertical farm operating a 330,000 sq ft facility in Dubai, UAE. The company offers a portfolio of hydroponically grown leafy greens and herbs including Crunchy Romaine, Spring Mix, Everyday Mix, Power Blend, Crunchy Leaf, Kale, Spinach, Parsley, Edible Flowers, and Microgreens. Products are sold through major UAE retailers and via quick-commerce partners. Through collaborations, Bustanica also enables partner products like cold-pressed juices (Forever Green, Heart Beet) with Essentially and specialty ice pops with House of Pops. The company operates as a subsidiary of Emirates Flight Catering, producing over 1 million kg of produce annually using 95% less water than traditional farming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ramadan Mix: Limited edition salad mix featuring four nutrient-packed lettuce varieties and bulls blood beet, available during Ramadan.
Products and services
- Crunchy Romaine
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% less water used compared to traditional farming (15L per kg vs 317L per kg)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Bustanica
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bustanica technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
Bustanica partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Noon MinutescoreFast delivery partnership enabling Bustanica products to reach consumers' doorsteps in just 15 minutes through Noon Minutes' rapid delivery service. Redefines convenience for fresh produce delivery in the UAE.
- House of PopscoreCollaboration creating the Blooming Collection (Orange Passion Bloom, Rosey Lemonade, Citrus Sunshine) and Vitality Collection (Lemon Apple Boost, Beet It) frozen ice lollies featuring Bustanica's edible flowers and leafy greens. Awarded Best Innovation Award at Gulfood 2025. Leftover pulp from juicing is blended with superfoods to create Heart Beet Crackers snack.
- EssentiallycorePartnership to transform surplus harvests into two cold-pressed juices: Forever Green and Heart Beet. The leftover pulp is blended with pumpkin seeds and chia seeds to create Heart Beet Crackers, a nutritious snack. Demonstrates zero-waste commitment and food resilience objectives.
- Bull & Bear (Waldorf Astoria DIFC)flagshipOn-site vertical farm installed in Bull & Bear restaurant kitchen enabling microgreens to be grown and harvested steps away from the plates they adorn. Menu features dishes like Virgin Mary Sorbet, Hydroponic Salad with Ginger Miso Dressing, and Wagyu Beef Tartare. Chef Marc Hardiman's mantra: From seed to bloom, fresh is best.
- Costa Coffee UAEcoreAll Costa grab-and-go salads now incorporate Bustanica's locally grown, nutrient-rich lettuce. Partnership reflects commitment to sustainability and support for local businesses. Each salad container helps save over 20 litres of water through hydroponic growing methods.
- BarakatminorFood service distribution partner for Bustanica produce in the UAE hospitality sector
- Fresh on TableminorDistribution partner connecting Bustanica produce with restaurants and food service establishments in the UAE
- Mirak/NRTCminorDistribution partner for Bustanica produce in the UAE market
- Al Dar HospitalityminorHospitality sector distribution partner for Bustanica fresh produce in the UAE
- BogaminorDistribution partner for Bustanica produce in the UAE
- Raw Coffee CompanyminorDistribution partner for Bustanica produce in the UAE
- La GuardierminorDistribution partner for Bustanica produce in the UAE
- ERTH HospitalityminorHospitality sector distribution partner for Bustanica fresh produce
- Gates HospitalityminorHospitality sector distribution partner for Bustanica fresh produce in the UAE
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bustanica competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pure Harvest Smart Farms: UAE-based controlled-environment agriculture operator producing tomatoes, berries, and leafy greens in high-tech greenhouses. Directly comparable as a fellow premium, locally-grown produce company serving the same UAE market with sustainability-aligned positioning targeting retail and food service customers.
- Badia Farms: UAE-based indoor vertical farm producing microgreens, edible flowers, and leafy greens for retail and HORECA customers in Dubai. Closest pure-play vertical farming peer in the same geography, serving similar B2B hospitality and retail channels with comparable premium positioning.
- Crop One Holdings: Former JV partner with Emirates Flight Catering that originally co-developed Bustanica (formerly Emirates Crop One). Operates large-scale vertical farms globally and provides the underlying technology platform that Bustanica was built on, making it a direct technology and operational peer.
- Plenty: US-based vertical farming company building large-scale indoor farms for leafy greens with proprietary robotics and AI-driven growing systems. A global direct peer in the controlled-environment agriculture space targeting retail leafy green customers with similar technology stack.
- Bowery Farming: US-based indoor vertical farm producing pesticide-free leafy greens and herbs for retail and food service customers using proprietary farm software and LED lighting. Direct competitor in CEA leafy greens with similar technology platform and premium retail positioning.
- 80 Acres Farms: US-based vertical farming company producing leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens using fully automated indoor farms. Directly comparable as a leafy green vertical farm operator serving retail and food service customers with similar CEA technology approach.
- AeroFarms: US-based vertical farming pioneer operating large-scale indoor farms for leafy greens using aeroponic technology. Comparable as a global CEA leafy greens operator, though it went through Chapter 11 restructuring in 2023, illustrating sector capital-intensity risks relevant to Bustanica.
- Kalera: Vertically integrated indoor vertical farming company (formerly &ever) operating facilities globally including in the Middle East. Directly comparable CEA leafy greens operator with similar product mix targeting retail and food service customers.
Regional players
- Sky Greens: Singapore-based commercial vertical farming operator using rotating tiered growing systems for leafy greens. Regional peer operating in a similar Asia/Middle East climate context with comparable urban, land-scarce market dynamics and retail leafy greens positioning.
Emerging players
- Infarm: Berlin-based modular vertical farming operator that installed in-store growing units across European grocery retailers before restructuring in 2023. Comparable in-product category (leafy greens/herbs) and in-store/on-site farming model similar to Bustanica's Bull & Bear restaurant installation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bustanica social profiles
Digital presenceBustanica financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bustanica leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bustanica funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bustanica M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bustanica
What does Bustanica do?
Bustanica operates an indoor vertical farm that grows hydroponic leafy greens, herbs, microgreens, and edible flowers year-round in a controlled environment near Al Maktoum City, Dubai. It sells its produce under the Bustanica brand to UAE retail chains, online grocery platforms, and food-service customers including Emirates Flight Catering. The farm's output is positioned as pesticide-free, locally grown, and water-efficient.
Is Bustanica a public or private company?
Bustanica is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Bustanica founded?
Bustanica was founded in 2022. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Bustanica based?
Bustanica is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East region.
How does Bustanica make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fresh Produce Sales (B2C) is the primary driver. The others are B2B Food Service Supply and value-Added Products.
Who are Bustanica's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pure Harvest Smart Farms, Badia Farms, Crop One Holdings, Plenty, Bowery Farming, 80 Acres Farms, AeroFarms and Kalera. Sky Greens is listed as a regional player. Infarm is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bustanica have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bustanica.
What industry is Bustanica in?
Bustanica's product category is Indoor Vertical Farming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAHAJ, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms), with a secondary code of AFAGAHAA, Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens). Its NAICS code is 11141 and its SIC code is 100.