Aquaculture in arid environments is seen as an alternative to conventional agriculture and live stocks to offer sources of proteins for an increasing demand projected over the coming decade, specifically in arid environments where water resources are under increasing strains. Aquaponic systems are one of the major aquatic production systems best fit for arid environments, notably the Middle East that has been experiencing water scarcity and severe impacts from climate change. These systems offer an excellent alternative to conventional land-based aquaculture, to provide both plant and seafood products for a market that has been heavily relying on exports for food security. In addition, aquaponic offers an alternative to marine-based aquaculture in a region where the marine environment is subjected to extreme weather conditions and has been experiencing depleted stocks of fisheries. In this presentation, the historical development of aquaponic systems in arid environments is presented, and the recent and current developments of these production systems in the Middle East region are presented and discussed.