Saudi-Based Arable Raises $2.55M to Advance Sustainable Farming
Co-founded by Lawrence Ong and Christina Khalife, the agritech startup aims to develop innovative hydroponic systems.
Saudi-based agritech startup Arable has raised $2.55 million in seed funding, with 90% of the investment sourced from foreign backers.
Co-founded by Lawrence Ong and Christina Khalife, the company aims to develop the agricultural landscape through innovative hydroponic systems tailored to the Gulf region’s arid, high-temperature climate, where traditional farming methods often face limitations. Unlike imported systems that cater to cooler, low-light climates, Arable's solutions are engineered for cost-effectiveness and scalability.
“Saudi Arabia offers an unparalleled ecosystem for startups like Arable to thrive,” Lawrence Ong, CEO of Arable, tells StartupScene. “Thanks to the support of organizations such as the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA), the Ministry of Investment (MISA), the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), and the General Authority of SMEs (Monshaat), we’ve been able to scale rapidly and bring innovation directly into the Kingdom.”
According to Arable, facilities can be set up four times faster and at a quarter of the cost, while operating expenses are 2.5 times lower than conventional systems. Additionally, 80% of the components are locally sourced or manufactured, reducing reliance on imports and fostering local industry growth.
The startup’s mission aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which emphasises self-sufficiency in food production and reducing reliance on imports.
