DUBAI // A giant public park celebrating the Quran, and with only trees and plants mentioned in the holy book, is planned to be open by September next year.
Holy Quran Park, being built in Al Khawaneej, will include 13 gardens and cover 60 hectares.
"There are about 50 species of trees mentioned in the Quran. We have been able to locate all but one," said Hussain Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality.
The one missing tree is the zaqqoum, which the Quran says is found only in the fires of hell.
"I've asked a few people if they would be willing to go get us one but so far we've had no volunteers," Mr Lootah joked.
The Dh27 million park will have an Umrah area, outdoor theatre, oasis and a 100-metre air-conditioned tunnel with displays of stories and miracles from the Quran.
It will have play areas, a desert garden, and running, cycling and walking tracks.
Other plants and crops in the park include figs, pomegranates, olives, corn, leeks, garlic, onions, lentils, barley and wheat.
The park will have a grand, Andalusian-style entrance and a glass greenhouse measuring 80 metres by 25 metres to hold 15 species of trees and plants that require delicate climates.
"These plants are expected to encourage the visitors to think about the reason behind mentioning it in the Quran," said Mohammed Mashroom, director of the general projects department.
Planning and early construction has been going on for two years, with the site preparation, service buildings and tracks completed, along with five of the 13 gardens, which cost Dh9m and cover 21.5 hectares.
Next month the construction will enter its second phase, which consists of building the other gardens – another 31.5 hectares – and a desert oasis designed around a 1 kilometre-long lake.
The initial plan included ghaf trees in the oasis but Mr Lootah rejected the idea.
"The ghaf is a noble tree but it was not mentioned in the Quran," he said. "Let's not confuse things. I don't want people to ask on which page in the Quran the ghaf is mentioned."
The second phase will be completed by July next year, before the final phase and the planned September opening.
Mr Mashroom said the cost of the project could change depending on the final design approved by the technical committee.
The plans were outlined at an event celebrating the 1,000th meeting of the municipality's technical committee.
ksinclair@thenational.ae
MAlkhan@thenational.ae
