Spineless cactus as forage crop in Arabian Peninsula Extreme aridity and limited renewable water resources characterize the seven Arabian Peninsula (AP) countries of Bahrain, Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Rapid economic development in the latter half of this century has resulted in significant changes to the traditional agricultural systems of the AP. Increased production has contributed to economic growth, but has often resulted in the degradation of natural resources. The issue of water resources and their use is fundamental to the sustainable development of the Arabian Peninsula. The Cactaceae is an important family of plants, native to the American continent. Out of its 1,600 species, the genus Opuntia is the most relevant within the family for its important role in agriculture and land rehabilitation. Opuntia species are truly multipurpose crops. In addition to provide vitamin rich fruits, vegetables and feed, they represent also the source of the much valued red dye, extracted from insects thriving exclusively on Opuntia ficus-indica plants. The environmental dimensions Spineless Cactus have been described as the “camel of the plant world”, “living fodder bank” and “nature’s fodder bank”. Cacti can play a strategic role in agricultural and economic development, particularly in disadvantaged areas, in view of its opportunities for income generation, feed and food production and ecosystem conservation. Arabian Peninsula is among those regions that would most benefit from a better use of this crop, which would address its promotion through an organized and well targeted deployment of its genetic resources. In the AP, the area of irrigated forages is large and production usually continues throughout the year. This is especially important for water resources because during the long hot summer period crop water use is high. The total annual water requirement of perennial forages is therefore very high, resulting in very large volumes of water being applied to maintain full forage production. A potential solution to water and fodder shortage problems is developing production based on cactus species, because they are already well adapted to harsh environments prevailing in the AP region. Water use for irrigated forage may be reduced, compared to conventional forage species, by using cactus species having superior water use efficiency coefficients. Conventional species are likely to suffer significantly as the result of reductions irrigation, whereas cacti are more tolerant. Many reasons may account for the great interest devoted to cacti. The multipurpose use of this plant species and its ability to grow in harsh environments are the main reasons. Cacti are drought tolerant and are efficient in preventing long-term degradation of ecologically fragile environments. They generate important fodder for livestock raised under arid zones and numerous varieties produce quality fruits for human consumption. Cacti can grow in severely degraded soils, which are inadequate for other crops. Opuntia spp. has a great capacity to withstand severe dry conditions and are ideal for responding to global environmental changes. Their root characteristics avoid wind and rain erosion, encouraging their growth in degraded areas.