Water Management Strategies in Date Palm Farming: A Path toward Sustainable Agriculture in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract This dissertation examines water management strategies among date-palm farmers in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. The qualitative study, grounded in agroecology and the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus, explores how practices such as drip irrigation, mulching, crop diversification and alternative water sources are implemented and perceived. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 18 farmers (5-7 ha each), and the data were analysed using thematic coding. Moreover, two-thirds of participants use drip irrigation (12/18 = 67%), most monitor water visually rather than with sensors (72%), and cost and affordability were the dominant barriers (83%). Furthermore, 72% reported having attended some form of training, and 44% expressed concerns about salinity. These local findings resonate with national and regional pressures: agriculture accounts for approximately 72% of freshwater withdrawals globally and stresses renewable budgets in MENA states (Buchholz, 2023), while Saudi investment in desalination is substantial $14.6 billion in projects, and desalination provided roughly 60% of water in 2019 (Fleck, 2023). On the one hand, agroecological measures, mulching, composting and residue reuse, offer low-cost, soil-building benefits (Gliessman et al., 2022; Kavvadias et al., 2024), and hydrogels from date residues can improve retention (Alsubaie et al., 2025). On the other hand, WEF trade-offs are clear: saving water via smart systems may increase energy demand and require policy alignment (Mabhaudhi et al., 2022; Sušnik et al., 2023). Farmers’ pragmatic openness to technology, yet they request targeted subsidies, technician networks and training. Therefore, the thesis argues for locally tailored packages combining agroecological practices, affordable drip retrofits, treated wastewater trials (publicly supported) and WEF-aware planning to sustain production in Al-Ula, with implications for policy and oasis biodiversity stewardship (MEWA; Abd El-Ghani et al., 2025). Moreover, projected climate trends threaten date productivity, with temperature and precipitation negatively affecting yields and slowing growth rates, emphasising the urgency for adaptive water strategies (Emam, 2025).