An Emirati businessman steeped in a rich farming tradition is reaping the rewards of his enterprising approach to agriculture.
A real estate boss by day, Abdullatif Al Banna, 56, spends many an evening tending to the thousands of pineapples he grows each year at his farm in the desert of Al Aweer in Dubai.
May is the month when he harvests more than 4,000 of the tropical fruit, spread across four greenhouses.
They are grown hydroponically ― without soil and using water-based nutrient solutions.
Sweet success
“The pineapples are very sweet. I don't think we can buy pineapples that are this sweet from the market,” Mr Al Banna said, as he collected the fruit from the plants.
“These are the sweetest I have eaten in my life,”
The farm was established in 2005 for growing dates.
But a decade ago, Mr Al Banna decided to experiment with pineapples and find a way to ensure they thrive in the challenging UAE desert climate.
He and his family are now enjoying the fruits of his labours over the years — literally, as Mr Al Banna prefers to distribute his tropical harvest among relations and friends, rather than sell it.
“I brought 300 pineapple plants to check which environment they grow best in. We put some under the open sky, some inside a greenhouse and some underneath the shade of trees,” he said.
“The ones in the greenhouse were the most successful.”
Following in family footsteps
Born in 1966 in Deira, Mr Al Banna said his interest in farming was passed on by his father.
“My father was teaching us since we were young. We had a farm in Jumeirah — where there is now Burj Al Arab. In front of that area, we grew dates in the 1970s. My father would take us there and tell us about farming.
“We would also go to Ras Al Khaimah for picnics and farming. Those were beautiful days.”
Mr Al Banna said his father encouraged him to travel to Egypt in 1999 and start farming there.
Now he spends part of his day at his real estate company in Business Bay in Dubai and his evenings at the farm. Mr Al Banna and his family live next to his land.
In addition to pineapples, he grows wheat during the cooler months, producing enough for his family.
He also owns a farm in Ras Al Khaimah, where cucumbers, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables and chillies are grown in 40 greenhouses.
Growing from strength to strength
It’s not easy to grow pineapples in the UAE’s extreme climate, Mr Al Banna says.
“It requires a cool greenhouse, with not more than 30°C, 29°C or 28°C temperature, and a little bit of humidity. We are saving 90 per cent of the water because of the hydroponics system.”
Each greenhouse covers an area of 8 metres by 34 metres. They are equipped with fans and automated irrigation that work round the clock throughout the year. The pineapples are planted in reservoirs filled with perlite — a volcanic glass with a relatively high water content,
When the fruit is mature, there are usually plantlets or suckers between the spiky leaves. These are removed and planted separately, so they grow more pineapples the next year.
Two people work in the pineapple farm — an agricultural engineer and a helper. The government also supports Mr Al Banna with some of the costs and materials. It also send technicians and engineers to help when required.
The pineapples are large and juicy, weighing between three to five kilograms. However, Mr Al Banna prefers not to sell them.
“We are happy to gift these pineapples to our family, friends and brothers. It is something rare as very few people can manage to grow them in the desert. So, it’s valuable for our people,” he added.
“But if someone is eager to buy them, I don’t refuse. In the past, I have sold hundreds of plants to nurseries and others. They paid about Dh50 ($13.6) per plant. ”
A model of sustainability
He hopes his farm can inspire people to think about food security.
“Every local should have some knowledge of growing food for himself, in case there are challenges in future,” he said.
Mr Al Banna believes his farm can serve as a prototype for pineapple farming in the country.
“I think there is a good opportunity for turnkey projects for growing pineapples in every house. We can make a … greenhouse at each residence. We can give them plants and also take care of their maintenance throughout the year.”
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
Liverpool’s fixtures until end of 2019
Saturday, November 30, Brighton (h)
Wednesday, December 4, Everton (h)
Saturday, December 7, Bournemouth (a)
Tuesday, December 10, Salzburg (a) CL
Saturday, December 14, Watford (h)
Tuesday, December 17, Aston Villa (a) League Cup
Wednesday, December 18, Club World Cup in Qatar
Saturday, December 21, Club World Cup in Qatar
Thursday, December 26, Leicester (a)
Sunday, December 29, Wolves (h)
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Company%20Profile
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
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Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Napoleon
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Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991.
Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.
In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.
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