Tree-lined Al Ain preserves green roots amid urban development


  • English
  • Arabic

When you think of the UAE, among the first images that will pop into your mind are likely to be towering skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle of sprawling urban metropolises.

However, there is a part of the country that takes pride in being an oasis of trees and greenery.

Al Ain – known as the nation's Garden City – has positioned itself as a place where the planting and preservation of trees is paramount.

It is not uncommon to find new roundabouts and traffic islands there that have been built to ensure minimum disruption to the local ecosystem.

Switching lanes and adjusting your route to accommodate the trees in Al Ain is a common occurrence for drivers, and the abundance of greenery is a source of pride for the community.

Trees are part of life in Al Ain

Although Maha Abdou has been a resident of Al Ain city for 27 years, the respect people have for trees in the area continues to amaze her.

“When I first came to the UAE, specifically Al Ain, I noticed how some roads were built in a certain way to avoid disrupting the tree," said Ms Abdou, who moved to the UAE from her native Egypt.

“It was weird for me at first but when I understood the reason behind it, it made a lot of sense to me.

“I’ve visited a lot of countries but I only noticed this in Al Ain. The trees here in Al Ain really help maintain the weather and humidity, especially in summer."

Al Ain resident Maha Abdou is amazed at the area's commitment to preserving trees. Photo: Maha Abdou
Al Ain resident Maha Abdou is amazed at the area's commitment to preserving trees. Photo: Maha Abdou

UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was renowned for caring passionately about desert trees and banned anyone from cutting them down.

Native trees including the sidr, ghaf and samar are protected by law in Abu Dhabi and it is prohibited to transplant, cut down or harm these without official permission.

“People in the UAE respect trees, especially Sheikh Zayed, because when in the desert they used to find shade under the trees,” Mohamed El Dasher, chairman of Dripco Contracting and Irrigation Group in Al Ain, told The National.

“Sheikh Zayed cared about desert trees and trees that suit the climate.

“Trees only get transplanted when permits are granted and even then it's only experts who are allowed to do it because the procedure is so delicate."

Mr El Dasher said the roads in and out of Al Ain were adorned with desert trees that are naturally drought-resistant, crucial in a region where water was scarce.

“These trees also served as a source of food for camels and other animals, with their low-hanging branches," he said.

“As you head from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi, you'll find the trees he selected lining both sides of the road, starting from Al Ain and extending to Qasr Al Maqam.

"Al Ain's beauty is elevated by the presence of trees, which can be found in residential and commercial areas across the city."

Mohamed El Dasher, of Dripco Contracting and Irrigation Group, has a passion for trees and the environment. Photo: Mohamed El Dasher
Mohamed El Dasher, of Dripco Contracting and Irrigation Group, has a passion for trees and the environment. Photo: Mohamed El Dasher

Penalties in place to protect trees

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi has measures in place to protect the natural beauty of communities.

“Any violations against native trees are applied according to the specific location of the tree,” the Environmental Agency of Abu Dhabi told The National. "For instance, if the tree was located inside protected area. the fine reach Dh20,000 [$5,445] per tree, whereas the fine will be Dh10,000 if the tree was located outside a protected area.

Environmental protection laws and regulations can vary from one emirate to another in the UAE. It’s advisable to adhere to the specific regulations for each emirate."

It said companies involved in construction or development projects should always consult the relevant authorities for guidance and permits.

“Typically, companies are required to conduct environmental impact assessments and propose mitigation measures to minimise harm to these trees," the agency said.

“This may include altering construction plans, creating protective barriers, transplanting native trees, compensate removed trees by planting specified number of tree outside the development area or implementing alternative landscaping strategies.

“The specific protocols and measures can vary, so it's crucial to liaise with the local authorities for precise guidance.”

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

The%20Beekeeper
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDavid%20Ayer%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Josh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Emmy%20Raver-Lampman%2C%20Minnie%20Driver%2C%20Jeremy%20Irons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
Game Of Thrones Season Seven: A Bluffers Guide

Want to sound on message about the biggest show on television without actually watching it? Best not to get locked into the labyrinthine tales of revenge and royalty: as Isaac Hempstead Wright put it, all you really need to know from now on is that there’s going to be a huge fight between humans and the armies of undead White Walkers.

The season ended with a dragon captured by the Night King blowing apart the huge wall of ice that separates the human world from its less appealing counterpart. Not that some of the humans in Westeros have been particularly appealing, either.

Anyway, the White Walkers are now free to cause any kind of havoc they wish, and as Liam Cunningham told us: “Westeros may be zombie land after the Night King has finished.” If the various human factions don’t put aside their differences in season 8, we could be looking at The Walking Dead: The Medieval Years

 

MATCH INFO

Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')

Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

While you're here
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: SimpliFi

Started: August 2021

Founder: Ali Sattar

Based: UAE

Industry: Finance, technology

Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Day 1 at Mount Maunganui

England 241-4

Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28

New Zealand 

Yet to bat

ARGYLLE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Matthew%20Vaughn%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Bryce%20Dallas%20Howard%2C%20Sam%20Rockwell%2C%20John%20Cena%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Abaya trends

The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.

EA Sports FC 25
Last 10 NBA champions

2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Updated: November 21, 2023, 12:24 PM`