The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has formally confirmed the ban of cryptocurrency mining on agricultural lands. ADAFSA has imposed strict fines to make sure that the rules can be enforced.
To address the increasing use of agricultural land for cryptocurrency mining at several locations in the emirate, the country imposed a ban. As per the official announcement, ADAFSA found that some farms are being used for cryptocurrency mining, which goes against their intended purpose of only supporting agricultural and animal activities as allowed by law.
AD Media Office posted on X, that it has issued violations to farm owners or tenants for mining digital currencies, stating that this activity harms agricultural sustainability and biosecurity.
Officials emphasized that mining harms farming by using too much electricity, consuming water for cooling, and creating heat and noise that disturb farm biosecurity and the environment.
Under new rules, crypto mining on farms in Abu Dhabi will face a fine of Dh100,000 ($27,230) for the first violation, which doubles to Dh200,000 for repeat offenses. It has also imposed penalties like service cuts, power shutoffs, equipment seizures, and possible legal action.
Abu Dhabi prioritizes food security
Officials have emphasized that farms must focus only on approved agricultural and livestock activities to safeguard food production and environmental balance.
ADAFSA urged farmers to follow the rules, warning that violations strain the region’s limited resources and productivity. The agency warned that diverting limited resources toward unauthorized activities such as mining undermines both productivity and environmental sustainability.
The country took the initiative to ensure food security amid increasing demands on power and water, highlighting tensions between new technologies and traditional farming in the UAE.