A great deal is being done in Dubai to enhance the appeal of the landscape. This desert nation is characterized by rather sparse vegetation. But upon closer inspection, Dubai is greener than one might think. Numerous plants have been introduced, improving the quality of life. Visible from afar and even recognizable from space is a massive palm-shaped island. The Palm Jumeirah was artificially reclaimed and has become an exclusive residential destination. In addition to villas and apartments, luxury hotels and a 120-kilometer-long sandy beach define the landscape.
Dubai Palm – an ambitious project and a tourist attraction
Palm Jumeirah is the first man-made palm-shaped island off the coast of Dubai. It took seven years of construction before Dubai had its own palm-shaped island. In 2008, this ambitious construction project was completed and opened to the public.
The Palm Jumeirah covers nearly 560 hectares and actually consists of three parts:
- Palm trunk
- palm fronds
- Crescent Moon
The island is four kilometers long and 600 meters wide. A 300-meter-long bridge connects Palm Island to the mainland. The outer perimeter measures twelve kilometers. About 10,000 people call Palm Island home. The architecture consists mainly of vacation homes, villas, apartments, and exclusive hotels.
For a vacation in Dubai, Palm Island is an exclusive destination. In the center of the crescent, the famous luxury hotel Atlantis The Palm soars skyward. With the entertainment district The Pointe at the tip of the trunk and the Palm West Beach promenade, Palm Island boasts popular tourist attractions.
To carry out the project, 94 million cubic meters of sand were deposited and seven million stones were used. The construction poses a challenge and features outstanding technical innovations. As a result, the crescent moon floats freely in the sea. Anyone wishing to reach it must drive through a 1.4-kilometer-long tunnel that runs 25 kilometers underwater.
Highlights of the Palm Jumeirah
Several special attractions highlight the uniqueness and allure of Palm Dubai.
Monorail
Palm Island is fully accessible via the monorail. The monorail opened in April 2009.
Aquaventure Water Park
Aquaventure Water Park offers a wide variety of attractions. Visitors can ride the Atlantean Flyer zip line, climb the Tower of Poseidon, watch the cow-nosed rays being fed, or go on the Shark Safari.
Lost Chambers, Atlantis
When the Royal Tower was built, the island kingdom of Atlantis came to light. So goes the resort legend, and visitors will have no reason to doubt it.
5-Star Hotel Dubai Palm – A Break from Everyday Life
A night’s stay at a hotel on Palm Island in Dubai sets new standards in architecture and service. Each hotel follows its own philosophy and is part of a unique overall concept that is unparalleled anywhere in the world.
- Atlantis The Palm: The resort promises pure luxury, first-class dining, and a wide variety of recreational activities. The resort’s target audience is couples and young families.
- Atlantis The Royal: The hotel is one of the newest attractions on Palm Island and has become something of a landmark.
- Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah: The hotel has won numerous awards and is known for its personalized service, spacious rooms, and attractive pool area.
- One&Only The Palm: The hotel promises a breathtaking view of the Dubai skyline. Its architecture surprises with its Mediterranean-inspired elements.
- Raffles The Palm: This hotel on Dubai Palm impresses with its almost nostalgic charm. The glitz and glamour of bygone eras are brought to life in a state-of-the-art setting. Furthermore, Raffles The Palm boasts what is arguably the city’s most exclusive club lounge.
- Fairmont, The Palm: This hotel is centrally located, and its spacious gardens clearly demonstrate how the challenge of establishing diverse vegetation in Dubai was met.
Flora and Fauna in Dubai
Dubai’s landscape is largely defined by the Great Arabian Desert. More than two-thirds of the area is occupied by the Rub’ al Khali. The vast majority of the desert lies in Saudi Arabia. Shifting sand dunes are gradually pushing the desert northward. Large-scale afforestation efforts are intended to prevent this natural process.
A salt marsh plain about 15 kilometers wide stretches between the coast and the desert. The coastline of the Persian Gulf is characterized by numerous offshore sandbars, islands, and coral reefs. This makes the waters extremely difficult to navigate.
In the northeast, the United Arab Emirates borders the Ruus Al Jibal Peninsula. The peninsula is located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The Oman Mountains stretch across the eastern part of the peninsula. Jabal Yibir, at 1,527 meters, is the highest peak in the United Arab Emirates.
The natural vegetation in Dubai and the UAE can be described as extremely sparse. In the desert regions, there is hardly any vegetation worth mentioning. The oases are covered with palm trees and a few species of eucalyptus. The vegetation along the coastline had to give way to agricultural use of the land. To prevent the desert from expanding further, the front dune belt was intensively planted.
There are very few native animals in Dubai. Only animals that are extremely well adapted to the climatic conditions and aridity can survive there. This applies, for example, to voles and lizards. Various species of fish can be found in the coastal waters. In general, fish populations in the United Arab Emirates are on the decline.
Vegetation in Desert Regions
The characteristic vegetation in desert regions consists of just a few species.
- Date palms: Date palms are the most common plants in the oases.
- Hardy grasses: These grasses are very robust and can tolerate extreme drought, which is why they can survive in the desert.
- Desert hyacinths: This species of hyacinth is found primarily in the Sabkha Plain.
- Acacias: Acacia trees are also found in the flat plains.
- Ghaf trees: This tree species, native to the Emirates, is found in the plains at the foothills of the Hajar Mountains.
Landscaping in Dubai City
In urban areas, lush greenery dominates the landscape. Among the trees introduced to Dubai is the eucalyptus, which can be found in gardens and parks. No hotel in Dubai Palm is without appropriate landscaping. Efforts are made to reflect the character of the hotel complex and create a harmonious overall appearance. In the parks and gardens, colorful flower beds set the tone. Since the native vegetation offers little variety, most of the plants have been introduced.
The Most Common Plants in Dubai
About 20 species of flowers grow naturally in Dubai. They define the landscape of the city’s streets, parks, and gardens. Most visitors are surprised by how green a city in the desert can be and by the variety of native and introduced plants that grow here year-round.
The following plants are native to Dubai:
Oscher
The Oscher is a native plant species also known as the fat-leaf tree. The plant contains a toxic milky sap, which it uses to protect itself from being eaten by wildlife. Legends and stories surround the fruit, also known as the “apple of Sodom.” It is said that the fruit vanishes into smoke when picked.
Oleander
Oleander is an evergreen plant with attractive white or pink flowers. All parts of the plant are poisonous, and it is often infested with spider mites in high temperatures.
Desert Rose
In Germany, the desert rose is a popular houseplant. In Dubai, it thrives in its natural habitat and can grow to impressive sizes. The desert rose is also poisonous. Its poison was frequently used by African indigenous peoples as arrow poison.
Fragrant Dragon Tree
This tropical plant is native to East Africa and is a popular houseplant in Europe. In its natural habitat, the dragon tree produces attractive flowers that smell like jasmine. Houseplant enthusiasts in Germany are usually unable to enjoy this.
Desert Petunia
This plant, also known as Ruellia simplex, thrives in warm conditions and can withstand prolonged periods of drought. Depending on its environment, the desert petunia can be grown as a ground cover or a climbing plant.
Flower Garden Dubai
The Dubai Miracle Garden opened its doors in 2013. Every year, millions of visitors are captivated by the splendor of the flowers—a sight one would not expect to find in a desert city. The garden was designed by Abdel Naser Rahhal. The landscape architect has created a botanical paradise in what is actually a rather inhospitable environment. This was achieved, in part, through innovative irrigation techniques that nourish each plant individually.
About 120 different species of flowers grow at the Dubai Miracle Garden.
The following plant species can be found here:
- Lobelias
- Strelitzias
- Orchids
- Hibiscus
- Helikonias
Care was taken when arranging the plants to create a harmonious overall design in terms of colors and shapes. The Emirates 380 has become a landmark in the park. The aircraft is considered the world’s largest passenger plane. Measuring approximately 73 meters in length, the aircraft was adorned with more than 500,000 plants. This created what is likely the world’s largest floral sculpture.
Various Disney characters of gigantic proportions also catch the eye. The 18-meter-tall Mickey Mouse is impossible to miss. Elephants, horses, and other animals have also been featured in the park in the form of floral artworks. Visitors can stroll through a romantic “Heart Alley,” passing under various heart-shaped archways decorated with flowers.
A Promise for the Future
Dubai is green and is set to become even greener. This is not just a vague assumption, but a visionary promise. Over the next 25 years, Dubai is set to become the greenest and happiest city on Earth. The emirate aims to have over 75 percent of its energy come from renewable sources by 2050. The Sheikh of Dubai announced this several years ago. Proof of this can be found in The Sustainable City on the outskirts of Dubai. There, 3,700 people live surrounded by greenhouses, ducks, donkeys, and two giant tortoises named Shelly and Sonny.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.com – jag_cz (Jakub Gojda)
