A thriving nursery at the base of Hajar Mountains stands as a testament to a retired UAE army officer's dream of a green revolution.
Ahmed Al Hefeiti, an Emirati steeped in a rich farming tradition, imports rare and diverse plants from countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and grows them in the UAE’s arid climate.
He has succeeded in harvesting a wide variety of fruits including mangoes and lemons from Pakistan, Chinese bayberries, Japanese oranges, South Africa's jujube as well as India’s cashews, chikoo, black jamun, jackfruit and passion fruit. From Thailand, Mr Al Hefeiti brought lychees, longan and star fruit.
Located about 20km outside Fujairah city on the Masafi road, the Wadi Dafta Plantation covers 2,000 square metres.
“I opened the nursery in 2018 because of my love for plants,” says Mr Al Hefeiti, who used to collect plants during his travels overseas and bring them home, following strict UAE regulations.
After the nursery was established, he obtained a licence to import plants.
“I have rare plants such as wood apple which I brought from Nepal even before opening the plantation.”
The nursery offers plants, seeds and fertilisers for sale.
Mr Al Hefeiti harvests Panama berries, guava, pineapples, pomegranates, papayas and Indian spices such as black pepper, cloves and cardamom. There are 13 types of banana plants including the red and blue varieties.
A plant imported from South Africa produces Black Sapote fruit that tastes like chocolate pudding. It is placed next to a tall mango tree to avoid direct sunlight.
Vegetables include aubergine, okra, chillies and peppers, and beehives provide a plentiful supply of honey. There are several flowering plants including Mohammadi rose from Iran that is used to create rose water.
Experimenting
When plants arrive, they are kept in a greenhouse until they acclimatise to the new conditions.
“I consider it [greenhouse] as an intensive care unit or ICU for my plants which I bring from abroad,” Mr Al Hefeiti says as he lifts a small pot. “For example, we brought these plants from Syria without soil. We kept them in pots in the greenhouse for a week and now they are doing OK.”
The plants are then moved under direct sunlight or to a shaded area, depending on their requirements.
“I see what works better because different plants need different environments. We try our best to provide the real environment for that kind of plant.”
Many plants such as black jamun, mangoes, guavas and chikoos are grown by grafting, a technique of connecting two severed plant segments together.
Nutrient-rich soil is prepared using compost, organic fertilisers and coco peat, a mixture made from the husks of coconuts. An in-house distillation system turns saline seawater into fresh water for irrigation. Water from a reservoir, which contains fish waste, is also used for irrigation and as fertiliser.
However, not all of Mr Al Hefeiti’s experiments have been successful.
“We tried Thailand’s rambutan but it didn’t grow in the UAE," he says. "Mangosteen also didn’t work. It was hard — maybe they needed a cooling system.”
Following in his father’s footsteps
Mr Al Hefeiti grew up in the Fujairah village of Sakamkam next to his father’s farm. After working in the UAE army’s medical corps for 15 years, he retired as a lieutenant colonel and then served as deputy chief executive of Al Sharq Healthcare. Now he can turn his undivided attention to his passion for agriculture.
“Since I was a child, I was helping my father on his farm, so he was teaching me all the time,” he recalls.
His family farm is still flourishing and is home to cattle and chicken.
“We eat from what we grow," Mr Al Hefeiti says. "Everything is available in our farm — from fruit and vegetables to meat and milk.”
Vision of a green UAE
In a country where 90 per cent of the food is imported, Mr Al Hefeiti is championing local, organic and sustainable food.
“My wish is to have a green UAE, grow more plants and to encourage the younger generation to do gardening in their house,” he says.
“When we import vegetables and fruits, they are not as fresh as the ones locally produced. We don't know what chemicals have been used.”
“Our winter season is long, from October until April. If you compare that to Europe, they have only three months that are favourable for agriculture. In Asia, people can do farming all year long but sometimes they get too much rain, which destroys their crops.”
He hopes the country can build an ‘agriculture city’, a community that houses local and global brands catering to all farming needs.
“It could have everything from seeds, plants, equipment to tools. It could also have universities for studying agriculture and exhibition centres.”
The agriculture city will boost our agritourism industry as it will attract visitors and generate income for our farms and businesses, he adds.
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
SPECS
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULTS
Time; race; prize; distance
4pm: Maiden; (D) Dh150,000; 1,200m
Winner: General Line, Xavier Ziani (jockey), Omar Daraj (trainer)
4.35pm: Maiden (T); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Travis County, Adrie de Vries, Ismail Mohammed
5.10pm: Handicap (D); Dh175,000; 1,200m
Winner: Scrutineer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
5.45pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Ejaaby, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
6.55pm: Handicap (D); Dh160,000; 1,600m
Winner: Storyboard, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (D); Dh150,000; 2,200m
Winner: Grand Dauphin, Gerald Mosse, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8.05pm: Handicap (T); Dh190,000; 1,800m
Winner: Good Trip, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Company%20profile
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE and Russia in numbers
UAE-Russia ties stretch back 48 years
Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018
More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE
Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE
The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Freezer tips
- Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
- If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
- Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
- The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5