QITAF Holding, an investment subsidiary under the Abu Dhabi National Investment and Development group, has launched a major aquaculture project in partnership with Japan's Global Academy and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, aiming to reach annual production of around 30,000 tonnes of seafood once fully operational. the project is built around modular Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) that use artificial intelligence and IoT monitoring for automated water-quality control and advanced feeding technologies. The species targeted include grouper (hamour), cobia, sea bass, snapper, flounder, halibut and shrimp. Beyond the growing units themselves, the project includes plans for hatcheries, processing facilities, rapid-freezing units, cold storage, a fish-feed production line and distribution networks — effectively building a full local production-to-market chain. Production capacity is expected to scale up gradually as feasibility studies progress and regulatory approvals are secured. The collaboration between QITAF, Global Academy and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority builds on a memorandum of understanding signed during Global Food Week 2025, covering research, innovation and training in aquaculture. The project fits into Abu Dhabi's broader push to cut its reliance on imported seafood and strengthen domestic food security, and could eventually supply a significant share of the local market's demand for fresh fish and shrimp from within the UAE itself.