Residents moving to the Emirates and attempting to recreate their gardens from back home with non-UAE native plant varieties are increasing the likelihood of more alien species being introduced to the environment.
While most foreign plant species cannot survive in the UAE's particularly hot climate, a recent study discovered about 360 alien plants growing across the country.
The scientists behind the research indicated that foreign residents planting flora more familiar with their home countries may be behind the rise in alien species.
The researchers, Dr Viacheslav Byalt, of the Komarov Botanical Institute in St Petersburg, Russia, and Mikhail Korshunov, of the Russian State Agrarian University in Moscow, identified at least 357 alien plant species in the Emirates.
“This is a very large number of those species for an area that size, even without taking into account the arid desert climate,” Mr Korshunov told The National.
He said there was "an active increase in the share of alien plants in the UAE" because of the country's economic success. "This trend is typical for all countries and regions of the Earth,” he added. “Most of the plants come through nurseries and retail outlets selling planting material, but we cannot blame them for this – such is the market demand.”
Mr Korshunov suggested residents from other countries may also be bringing plants with them, as has been seen in New Zealand and Hawaii. The analysis did not consider how many introductions may have been caused by foreign residents.
Warnings
UAE residents have been strongly advised by authorities to stick to growing plants that are native to the region, amid demand for more exotic species from overseas.
EAD told The National that it was regularly monitoring threats from alien plants, and had implemented a monitoring programme to document ecosystems and their plant species, both native and alien. It emphasised the importance of planting native species in landscaping projects to minimise the need for non-native varieties.
The agency's instruction to residents came after the study, which focused on Fujairah but highlighting a nationwide issue, found “a clear” relationship between growth in economic activity and an increase in the number of non-native plants being found in the UAE.
Risks
If non-native plants establish wild populations, they could pose a danger to local flora. While the agency said the UAE's "harsh environmental conditions” made it difficult for alien plants to establish themselves, there are exceptions, such as Mesquite.
The plant, which is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, has become established as an invasive weed around the world. “Since this species has an expansive nature, it can also spread over a large area and may outcompete the native species in such habitats,” EAD said.
Research on alien plants in Fujairah, published late last year in the botanical journal Turczaninowia, identified 14 species from the Fabaceae plant family that were not previously recorded in the UAE. They added to others identified in previous research.
Growing in numbers
Aliens among us
The UAE National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan 2022 – 2026, published by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, states there are 52 alien vascular plant species and more than 598 native plant species in the UAE.
Of the alien species, five, including mesquite, have been identified as invasive. All have “well-established populations in the country” and are subject to work to “contain and manage them”. UAE laws prevent the introduction of invasive alien species.
In a separate study published recently in the Journal of Arid Environments, researchers at institutions including the University of Sharjah identified how mesquite gains the upper hand over native plants.
Mr Korshunov, who is completing a doctorate based on his work in the UAE, said the hot and dry climate “protects very well from invaders”.
“The few species that can compete with native species in an arid climate require close attention in order to preserve biodiversity and the appearance of ecosystems," he said.
He added that, when areas were being planted, local flora – which requires less water and care, and supports biodiversity – should be used instead of non-native species. He said there had been positive results from planting native sidr, oleander, elephant grass and tephrosia in the breeding centre for the Arabian tahr at Wadi Wurayah, in Fujairah.
“The number of native insects and birds has increased, and even native partridges have returned and are breeding successfully,” Mr Korshunov said.
Saif Pasha, a spokesman for Tanseeq Investment, the owner of a landscaping company, Tanseeq, and Acacia Garden Centre in Dubai said "it was not necessarily the case" that consumers preferred non-native plants, "but there is a demand for them".
He said all plants were acclimatised to the UAE, so they are sold on to customers "only after they get used to the weather". He indicated that plants used in landscaping projects were "mostly from the outside", but needed to be looked after.
"Anything that cannot survive, there's no point in planting. We only sell the trees that make sense," he said, adding that the olive was popular.
An invasion
According to estimates published last year by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, about six per cent of alien plant species, or 1,061 species globally, have become invasive.
“There are thousands of species of alien populations,” said Tim Blackburn, professor of invasion biology at University College London. "Most of these don’t have much impact, some have quite large impacts. The trouble is that it’s quite difficult to predict from first principles which species they are going to be. Generally, we don’t know they’re going [to become invasive] until they’re so widespread there’s not a lot you can do about it."
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
