![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DY5KOKKZJB47HX23YWT464TUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=48db3d2cee87f82fe77ae24b4c209b9a0c0958a0f9ebd453e2dc1335b861dd0e&width=400&height=225)
'The intent is for people to search for local solutions,' Ms Shalaby said. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GVLWL22GYVHWLIFS3QTBHHE6P4.jpg?smart=true&auth=611ceb724d119380e6177f9c07f0ef757c2f60a79a76bef520d8ea76d813c49d&width=400&height=225)
Expo City Farm will continue running in Dubai even though Cop28 has closed. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EJX5QI7P2RE7FO3WD5X75IYCKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa810198e45b1888c02cd5776d076ab433c0b24a5ced3d03ba5ffab1e84f0f9c&width=400&height=225)
More than 30,000 people explored the farm during the climate summit. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CYJJFUS2GNFCJHGBGHIAVUVYLI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a1a307c77940c4323d68be754a734f35620c8054cb119d2b29d414bca19b8ff&width=400&height=225)
It featured rows of cucumbers, lettuce and carrots growing on patches of land surrounded by glass and steel buildings at the Cop28 green zone site. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NR72N2UIKNCPBGTXKSQG2VS25E.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae4ffe324101831772f7eae93abcd37e54e1cc679668a4cc4819d32ed2dc7ccd&width=400&height=225)
Expo City Farm attracted families, non-government groups and Cop delegates. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FDZR52ZK5FJ7KXYBK4LGW5IUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=796205dd342daa5987cf9aa7b45478577214b2220fbb44c033d18484f9edfdce&width=400&height=225)
It will remain as a legacy of the historic climate summit. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKBA6SOKERGI7FXB4NICJ467QE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc2ba587c71cb925fb5adcfea131a06fa0c257f08d5cfe0f90e191e0794916aa&width=400&height=225)
Mai Shalaby, the farm’s sustainability manager, told The National 'there is great interest in this space'. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QCPB72WOVZC4VB3UBDP3K7NATM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3daa92fe35eb99711400b24e7050a7f48e1d371aae4ba6df3e271fea3c74be05&width=400&height=225)
To serve this level of interest, the farm will be open daily during winter festivities at Expo City that run until January with plans to stay open long after. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T7A5MFE3YJGYDCKKV57XRBRLRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e427499b3915cd3aa482f30134f78a5c2257a5a286b6c7405f4a7cb038678ca8&width=400&height=225)
Entrance is free, with guides taking visitors on short tours of the site. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLENEG6QQRC2XD77OYK3KYHD7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=dc2f8d61e18545e2379a03e7070a7c892813890aad6ad6a17dea74baa4645ac7&width=400&height=225)
Visitors can get tips such as how to grow fresh produce using little water and energising soil with organic compost. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/77E7VKLCP3ROTIDJ2W7GCNG6VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=066f23e651e27e9176c247e8f1f2dc5f0318331201fdb51e066779750fa8e2b8&width=400&height=225)
Expo City Farm is the latest of several projects in the UAE to demonstrate sustainable agriculture is possible in the desert. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/52ERZXBGK5AHXN4E6Z7LDEYHME.jpg?smart=true&auth=65a696394c2c6e39de025da3ca6e22e8054cc73f921090507f70a5613046e3d1&width=400&height=225)
'Having a farm in the middle of the city is special to people,' Ms Shalaby said. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z5HUBRDT6RA4HEDDABT77XDILY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a167bbebc3f31d3f9a5a7c01296f2262359ad5225be62e6fd4d2e20289936986&width=400&height=225)
The public can see tomatoes climbing on a wooden frame, while millet, corn, quinoa and beans sprout in another corner of the sustainable site. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GVW6MNEE2ZCJLLEZZJEKWPTWRI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4d157a2304caf6c40460e7ffa9d13839be4de176af7720aa0e5c46616c87327b&width=400&height=225)
Under the shade of trees, a space is set aside for species native to the UAE such as shih. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QGCW6ZHZ7BG5FLJSGBU6DOSLH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=90d7432ea179c74c7871c794da469cef05736693c3d149471df200418ad2eb84&width=400&height=225)
A cool indoor hydroponics section produces edible flowers and herbs. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DY5KOKKZJB47HX23YWT464TUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=48db3d2cee87f82fe77ae24b4c209b9a0c0958a0f9ebd453e2dc1335b861dd0e&width=400&height=225)
'The intent is for people to search for local solutions,' Ms Shalaby said. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GVLWL22GYVHWLIFS3QTBHHE6P4.jpg?smart=true&auth=611ceb724d119380e6177f9c07f0ef757c2f60a79a76bef520d8ea76d813c49d&width=400&height=225)
Expo City Farm will continue running in Dubai even though Cop28 has closed. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EJX5QI7P2RE7FO3WD5X75IYCKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa810198e45b1888c02cd5776d076ab433c0b24a5ced3d03ba5ffab1e84f0f9c&width=400&height=225)
More than 30,000 people explored the farm during the climate summit. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CYJJFUS2GNFCJHGBGHIAVUVYLI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a1a307c77940c4323d68be754a734f35620c8054cb119d2b29d414bca19b8ff&width=400&height=225)
It featured rows of cucumbers, lettuce and carrots growing on patches of land surrounded by glass and steel buildings at the Cop28 green zone site. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NR72N2UIKNCPBGTXKSQG2VS25E.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae4ffe324101831772f7eae93abcd37e54e1cc679668a4cc4819d32ed2dc7ccd&width=400&height=225)
Expo City Farm attracted families, non-government groups and Cop delegates. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FDZR52ZK5FJ7KXYBK4LGW5IUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=796205dd342daa5987cf9aa7b45478577214b2220fbb44c033d18484f9edfdce&width=400&height=225)
It will remain as a legacy of the historic climate summit. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKBA6SOKERGI7FXB4NICJ467QE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc2ba587c71cb925fb5adcfea131a06fa0c257f08d5cfe0f90e191e0794916aa&width=400&height=225)
Mai Shalaby, the farm’s sustainability manager, told The National 'there is great interest in this space'. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QCPB72WOVZC4VB3UBDP3K7NATM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3daa92fe35eb99711400b24e7050a7f48e1d371aae4ba6df3e271fea3c74be05&width=400&height=225)
To serve this level of interest, the farm will be open daily during winter festivities at Expo City that run until January with plans to stay open long after. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T7A5MFE3YJGYDCKKV57XRBRLRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e427499b3915cd3aa482f30134f78a5c2257a5a286b6c7405f4a7cb038678ca8&width=400&height=225)
Entrance is free, with guides taking visitors on short tours of the site. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLENEG6QQRC2XD77OYK3KYHD7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=dc2f8d61e18545e2379a03e7070a7c892813890aad6ad6a17dea74baa4645ac7&width=400&height=225)
Visitors can get tips such as how to grow fresh produce using little water and energising soil with organic compost. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/77E7VKLCP3ROTIDJ2W7GCNG6VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=066f23e651e27e9176c247e8f1f2dc5f0318331201fdb51e066779750fa8e2b8&width=400&height=225)
Expo City Farm is the latest of several projects in the UAE to demonstrate sustainable agriculture is possible in the desert. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/52ERZXBGK5AHXN4E6Z7LDEYHME.jpg?smart=true&auth=65a696394c2c6e39de025da3ca6e22e8054cc73f921090507f70a5613046e3d1&width=400&height=225)
'Having a farm in the middle of the city is special to people,' Ms Shalaby said. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z5HUBRDT6RA4HEDDABT77XDILY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a167bbebc3f31d3f9a5a7c01296f2262359ad5225be62e6fd4d2e20289936986&width=400&height=225)
The public can see tomatoes climbing on a wooden frame, while millet, corn, quinoa and beans sprout in another corner of the sustainable site. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GVW6MNEE2ZCJLLEZZJEKWPTWRI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4d157a2304caf6c40460e7ffa9d13839be4de176af7720aa0e5c46616c87327b&width=400&height=225)
Under the shade of trees, a space is set aside for species native to the UAE such as shih. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QGCW6ZHZ7BG5FLJSGBU6DOSLH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=90d7432ea179c74c7871c794da469cef05736693c3d149471df200418ad2eb84&width=400&height=225)
A cool indoor hydroponics section produces edible flowers and herbs. Photo: Expo City Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DY5KOKKZJB47HX23YWT464TUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=48db3d2cee87f82fe77ae24b4c209b9a0c0958a0f9ebd453e2dc1335b861dd0e&width=400&height=225)
'The intent is for people to search for local solutions,' Ms Shalaby said. Photo: Expo City Dubai
Dubai's Expo City Farm shows how to grow fresh and sustainable food in the desert
The farm, which debuted at Cop28, remains open and entrance is free
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
16 December, 2023
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