Inside the UAE's plant biobank: the green heart of conservation in the desert

The plant genetic resource centre has launched the country's first analysis of local fungi

Rachel Kelly
Rachel Kelly

May 30, 2025

Tucked away on the outskirts of Al Ain, scientists at the UAE's Plant Genetic Resource Centre – part seed vault, part futuristic lab – are working to safeguard the botanical future of a nation better known for its desert sands than its native flora.

Updated: May 30, 2025, 6:02 PM