Dubai prison inmates develop green fingers on thriving organic farm


Nilanjana Gupta
  • English
  • Arabic

On a sprawling organic farm at Dubai Central Jail, inmates are not just growing fruit, flowers and vegetables, they are also cultivating their hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow.

"I really like to work here. I never take a day off," an inmate said as he gave The National a tour of the 225 square-metre Al Aweer farm where he spends up to five hours a day.

The construction worker, 41, went to jail in 2006.

“I came here because of my mistake. Now, the farm has given me a new focus. I have been working five days a week for the last five years,” he said.

I started with a single lettuce and a Masafi water bottle. I proved we could grow such a beautiful plant in the middle of a desert

The farm at the inmates’ education and training department is part of Dubai Police’s strategy to empower prisoners and develop their skills.

Inmates grow 36 kinds of crops, including lemons, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, chillies, aubergines, corn, papayas and figs.

“I didn’t know any farming earlier but now I have learnt a lot. I have some land in my home town of Hyderabad in India. When I am released, I will do farming there to support my family,” said the father of two.

“I really miss my parents and children. I speak with them over the phone once a week. I am grateful they are still waiting for me.”

In a nearby room, another inmate feeds fish that are part of an aquaponics system. There is also a hydroponic vertical structure where inmates have grown mint, basil, lettuce and other plants.

“My plan is to someday create a hydroponic and aquaponics farm in my house in the Philippines,” the 45-year-old said as he showed off one of the soilless plants.

“I came to prison in 2011 and now I am a changed man. I work on the farm three hours a day. I also embraced Islam while in prison.

“When I go back home, I want to start a new life. My children and ailing mother are eagerly waiting for me,” the father of four said.

The main purpose of the farm is training and not production. The harvest is distributed among inmates and supporting staff.

“We have succeeded in planting things that are hard to plant in the desert,” said Maj Mohammed Abdulla Al Obaidli, director of the inmates’ education and training department.

“We set up a creativity club here to receive the inmates' suggestions which we implement if we find them beneficial for the inmates.”

The inmate behind the project

The farm that is bearing fruit in the desert was created in 2014 by Hero Sanabam, a former inmate who was in jail for bounced cheques.

Mr Sanabam, 53, comes from a farming background. He has a doctorate in design and master planning and a doctorate in agricultural science.

“I used to take care of the library in prison for the inmates. One day Maj Al Obaidli said to me: ‘Dr Hero, why don't we develop something for the inmates, where they can earn, learn and get a new lease of life?’ That’s how it all began. I saw the farm both as a challenge and an opportunity to rectify my mistakes,” he said.

“I started with a single lettuce and a Masafi water bottle. I proved we could grow such a beautiful plant in the middle of a desert at 55 degrees of scorching summer.

"We grew all kinds of plants that people initially said weren’t possible to grow in the desert. We grew roses, tomatoes and so many other plants, as if we were living in an Amazon forest.”

Inmates at Dubai Central Jail grow plants using hydroponic and aquaponics systems. Nilanjana Gupta / The National
Inmates at Dubai Central Jail grow plants using hydroponic and aquaponics systems. Nilanjana Gupta / The National

The jail initially began an education semester to teach inmates how to establish a simple farm. When they saw growing interest, they added study halls for practical training.

“We set up the hydroponics study hall in the beginning followed by the aquaponics. In the classes, our aim was to teach inmates how to extract the seeds from the fruits, then to use all the available soils to plant them,” Maj Al Obaidli said.

After Mr Sanabam was released in 2018, he returned home to India where he established his company Polybionic Technology, which provides sustainable farming services.

He continues to provide online training to Dubai inmates to keep the farm going.

“My heart and soul are always there, no matter where I am. The farm is my responsibility,” the father of two said.

Mr Sanabam thanked Dubai Police for their “tremendous support” in bringing his ideas to fruition.

“Behind every success, there is a difficult path. Indeed, those were difficult times but because of what we achieved in prison, they felt like the most beautiful days of my life. Before my release, everybody was crying. Those were tears of joy, tears of missing,” he said.

The farm helped Mr Sanabam stay away from negative thoughts and emotions while in prison, he said.

“I used to miss my wife and children so much. But I didn't sit back and cry. I converted that energy into something productive. I wanted my children, my family to remember that even inside the jail, my daddy did good things for mankind. That is what I want to be written in my history and that is what I did,” he said.

Bigger farm in the works

The 9,600 square-metre farm will include three kinds of agriculture: traditional, hydroponic and aquaponic. Courtesy Dubai Police
The 9,600 square-metre farm will include three kinds of agriculture: traditional, hydroponic and aquaponic. Courtesy Dubai Police

Mr Sanabam helped Dubai Police build a 9,600 square-metre farm, about one and a half times the size of a football pitch.

The farm has been designed to include three kinds of agriculture: traditional, hydroponic and aquaponic.

“It will be a quasi-digital farm with a self-service mechanism. The inmates will supervise the production. It will include 17 farmhouses, two of which will be allocated for harvesting, cleaning and packaging operations,” Maj Al Obaidli said.

“There will be a collaboration between the men's jail and the women's jail in the planting cycle. Plants will be grown from seeds to seedlings in the women's jail, then they will be transported to the big farm here for harvesting.”

The farm is expected to open by the end of this year, he added.

The correctional institution in Dubai also supports several other projects to rehabilitate prisoners.

“Inmates have succeeded in making buggies that can be driven safely in the desert," Maj Al Obaidli said. "They are also building a structure of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque entirely from cardboard, with a 16x12-metre base and a height of almost seven metres. It is an exact replica of Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.”

A book called Tomorrow, I Will Fly was published last year as a result of a two-year collaboration between Dubai Police and the Emirates Literature Foundation. It features a collection of essays and stories written by 15 men and 12 women inmates.

Copies of the book were made available to prisons in the UAE and abroad, including prisons in the UK.

The names and crimes of the inmates have been omitted at the request of Dubai Police.

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
The figures behind the event

1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew

2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show

3) 1,000 social distancing stickers

4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue

RESULT

Valencia 3

Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'

Ferran Torres 67'

Atlanta 4

Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS

Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.

Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.

Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

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Major honours

ARSENAL

  • FA Cup - 2005

BARCELONA

  • La Liga - 2013
  • Copa del Rey - 2012
  • Fifa Club World Cup - 2011

CHELSEA

  • Premier League - 2015, 2017
  • FA Cup - 2018
  • League Cup - 2015

SPAIN

  • World Cup - 2010
  • European Championship - 2008, 2012
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE squad to face Ireland

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind

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
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa

8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21

  1. Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
  2. Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
  3. Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
  4. Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
  5. Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
  6. Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
  7. Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
  8. Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
About Seez

Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017  

Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer

Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon 

Sector:  Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing

Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed

Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A 

Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds 

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Racecard

6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m

7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m

8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m

The National selections

6.30pm: Chaddad

7.05pm: Down On Da Bayou

7.40pm: Mass Media

8.15pm: Rafal

8.50pm: Yulong Warrior

9.25pm: Chiefdom