Prof. Rashid Al-Yahyai

Agroecology & Food Security | Plant Sciences

Science-Based R&D

I am working with an excellent international team of collaborators to resolve challenges in higher education in agriculture, food security for harsh environments, rural & human development, and agro-ecosystems, in Oman, MENA region & beyond. My long-established experience stems from my career portfolio in various academic, business & administrative positions. I am faculty at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), where I have been working for over 26 years progressing from Demonstrator to Professor. Some of the major highlights of my career at SQU being the first Omani to serve as the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences. Prior to that, I have served as the Assistant Dean for Training & Community Services, at the same college at SQU.


As a Professor of Horticultural Sciences at SQU, I have more than 25 years of research and practical experience in arid-land farming, fruit production, postharvest, and sustainable agroecosystems. I teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses in horticultural sciences. I have done numerous public lectures and participated in international conferences around the world. My publications exceed 100 articles, book chapters and books and can be found in my profile at ResearchGate and Google Scholar.


Nationally, I was appointed as a MP in the legislative body of Oman, the State Council, in 2011 for a four-year term that was renewed in 2015 for a second term. During my terms, I have served in ‘Human Resource Development’, and ‘Education & Research’ parliamentary committees. I also chaired many ad-hoc committees while serving as a member of State Council.


In Business, I have also served in the Board of Director of the government-owned the Agricultural & Development Fund. I am currently the Deputy Chair if the Board of Directors of Date Palm Development Company. Further, I have cofounded three small businesses in the agro-food sector.

I look forward to connecting with individuals with similar research interests for collaborative work. I also provide consultancy work for the public and private sectors in various areas of horticulture, arid-climate farming, food security, capacity building, and plant economic utilization & resource assessment & conservation.