A new aesthetic is emerging in the UAE, as landscape architects and garden designers are increasingly drawing on indigenous and naturalised plant species as inspiration for their creations. Considered weeds by some, these plants are now increasingly sought-after, as clients are calling for more sustainable designs, which work in harmony with the surrounding landscape and have lower requirements for water.
For years, pioneering plant and seed collectors have braved the summer heat on trips to the desert and mountains to find specimens that will kick-start the long process of propagating and cultivating these local breeds. Tough love keeps these plants alive; overly rich compost or too much water means they could be killed with kindness. It’s often a matter of trial and error.
Indigenous plants as inspiration
“Indigenous plants are those that have originated in, or are characteristic to, a specific region or area,” explains horticulturalist Bruce Pedersen, who has spent 25 years working in the business of plants across the UAE, Qatar, Nigeria and Sudan.
What we're doing has pretty much not been done before and we're breaking new ground
“They are there by virtue of natural distribution processes without the aid of human intervention. Naturalised, adaptives or introduced species are plants that have been introduced into an area through human intervention from outside of its normal distribution range, and where through the nature of the particular plant or the environment, they are able to survive and flourish.” For this reason, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain which species have grown in the Arabian Gulf for hundreds of years, and which were simply brought here and thrived.
Local landscape architects Desert Ink is one such firm working to implement more local species into their designs. The company was behind the gardens at the recently opened Al Faya Lodge and Spa by Anarchitect, the five-room boutique hotel sited near Mount Alvaah in Sharjah, which utilises both indigenous and naturalised plant species. The company is also currently working on the landscaping for the Sustainability Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 in conjunction with Grimshaws, the architects behind The Eden Project in Cornwall, England.
Duncan Denley, the firm’s managing director, explains that they want to “change the way people look at landscape and landscape materials. It’s all about getting people to look at local plants and materials, such as Omani stone, and drawing on these for local projects,” he explains. The team has already tagged ghaf and acacia trees in anticipation for the requirements of the landscaping for Expo 2020’s much-anticipated Sustainability Pavilion, which is due to be completed at the end of this year.
“There’s some element of trial and error with this kind of innovation,” says Denley. “We know that some won’t do so well, but hopefully that will be a very small proportion. What we’re doing has pretty much not been done before and we’re breaking new ground and in landscape there aren’t many chances to do that. With the rarer plants, we don’t know how they are going to work, we just have to try it, as much of it is theory at this stage.”
Breaking through to the mainstream
The company has now completed three private garden designs using plants similar to the ones they will use in the Sustainability Pavilion. Slowly, appreciation for this type of planting is filtering through to the mainstream, says Denley. “When the Impressionists started painting, the public did not appreciate this style, yet 100 years later, it was considered groundbreaking and beautiful.
“We hope this is part of an education process that will help to change people’s opinion on what locally designed landscaping should look like in gardens and the public realm,” he adds. “And how to appreciate plants that are meant to be here, rather than those that rely on large amounts of water on a daily basis for their very survival.”
Reducing water waste is a big factor in using the country’s natural flora. Irrigation on some planting schemes is reduced by about 70 per cent by using natives and adaptives in conjunction with subsurface irrigation (instead of spraying water on the surface where it quickly evaporates).
Getting in touch with experts
In preparation for Desert Ink’s work at Expo, the team consulted with one of the UAE’s leading landscape designers, Kamelia Zaal, and visited her indigenous and adaptive landscape design at Koa, the development next to Al Barari on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Dubai. Zaal’s design, the first of its kind in the UAE, uses about 80 per cent indigenous plants and 20 per cent native or adaptive species. It was planted a little over two years ago and she’s pleased with how it’s matured.
"At the moment, everything is fine," she tells The National. "I did do a bit of experimentation and there are a few things I want to add, and I'll include a few more flowers and some colour in the winter, but otherwise I haven't really changed it. It's still an evolving landscape."
Koa is Zaal’s biggest indigenous plant project to date and the designer is aiming to introduce more of these species on future projects wherever she can. Most recently, she’s been working with Edge Architects on a Dubai Hills project where her schematic specifically states they will use local plants.
All of this work comes as part of a larger trend, she observes, as her private clients are also asking for designs to be more sustainable and to use grey water recycling and drought-tolerant species. “It’s a big shift,” says Zaal, adding that she’s been happy to share her experience, information and ideas with Desert Ink. “I’ll send them a list of plants – why wouldn’t I?”
Getting it right, however, isn’t easy, she adds. It’s all about getting the balance between saving water, but also being practical and functional. It’s also about toeing the line between design and the well-being of the flora, plus being creative with the types of plant species being used. “It can be like giving an artist five colours to work with and I’d get a bit bored,” she says. “When designing with plants, different textures and colours are needed.”
Like with artists, landscape architects embrace the opportunity to work with new mediums. There are some species they know work, but if they are not being used regularly enough, they will disappear from the nurseries. “It’s good to work with these new plants to create new designs, and people need to realise how beautiful indigenous plants are,” says Zaal. “They are delicate and stunning and really add to the garden.
“At the end of the day, we are living in a desert and with climate change and water scarcity. The environment is being affected dramatically and very quickly.
“We need to do something immediately to change that, and I think everyone needs to take responsibility. My way of doing that was to start looking at indigenous plants because, obviously, they belong here. This is their habitat, after all, and therefore these are the plants we should be using.”
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THREE
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Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
INFO
What: DP World Tour Championship
When: November 21-24
Where: Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae.
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships
2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds
2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58
2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified
2012 London Olympics 9.63
2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77
2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79
2016 Rio Olympics 9.81
2017 London World Championships 9.95
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Book%20Details
%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EThree%20Centuries%20of%20Travel%20Writing%20by%20Muslim%20Women%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEditors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiobhan%20Lambert-Hurley%2C%20Daniel%20Majchrowicz%2C%20Sunil%20Sharma%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndiana%20University%20Press%3B%20532%20pages%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
57%20Seconds
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rusty%20Cundieff%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJosh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Morgan%20Freeman%2C%20Greg%20Germann%2C%20Lovie%20Simone%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Usain Bolt's World Championships record
2007 Osaka
200m Silver
4x100m relay Silver
2009 Berlin
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2011 Daegu
100m Disqualified in final for false start
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2013 Moscow
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2015 Beijing
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
