The Abu Dhabi government in the United Arab Emirates has warned farmers not to use their land for cryptomining.

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) recently reaffirmed the prohibition of cryptocurrency mining on land set aside for agriculture and livestock.

Published by the Abu Dhabi media office, the announcement states that authorities recently detected cryptocurrency mining sites set up in several farmland locations.

According to the ADAFSA, these farms will have their mining equipment confiscated, and all ADAFSA services and support will be withdrawn.

Fines of AED100,000 (around $27,000) will be imposed as a deterrent. Repeat offenders will have their fines doubled, while also being referred to the local legal authorities, and could even have electricity at their farms cut off altogether.

“ADAFSA reiterates its call to all farm owners and agricultural workers - across both plant and animal sectors - to refrain from engaging in activities that fall outside the approved agricultural and livestock economic uses as defined by the authority. Such practices jeopardize the continuity of support and services and conflict with ADAFSA’s sustainability policies aimed at curbing improper practices on farms,” states the announcement.

Abu Dhabi isn’t the only place cracking down on illegal crypto mining. Russia has been sweeping up illegal cryptomines and has proposed diverting any Bitcoin mining subsidies to AI use-cases.

Meanwhile, energy consumption in the Al-Wafrah region of Kuwait dropped 55 percent almost overnight as authorities raided homes suspected of housing cryptocurrency mining rigs.

Data center operators in Abu Dhabi include Khazna, Du, Gulf Data Hub, and Datacenter Vaults. UAE cryptomining firm Phoenix Group has a mining site in Abu Dhabi's Reem Island.