Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture Announced the Construction of Emirates Soil Museum

• Located in Dubai, UAE and the first of its kind in the MENA region.
• A national hub for soil education. 

Dubai, UAE, September 7, 2016:    Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to complete the construction of the Emirates Soil Museum in the Emirate of Dubai. The Museum, a distinctive facility and a unique hub for soil education, will be the first of its kind in the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.
The MoU was signed yesterday on the premises of the Museum by H.E. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD and Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA. 

Emirates Soil Museum, set to open by December 2016, will provide vital information on the critical role of soil in the natural environment. Moreover, the Museum will demonstrate the importance of soil in urban planning and how it’s the underlining measure to manage and secure food sources. The Emirates Soil Museum an educational instrument for the UAE and a pivotal hub to increase soil public awareness in the society, will promulgate the wealth of soil knowledge extracted from extensive research and several soil surveys conducted across the country.  

H.E. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, said: “At ADFD we possess the expertise, know-how and resources to profoundly drive socio-economic growth; stemming from 45 years of experience and the successful development of 481 projects 55 of which fostered expansions in the sector of agriculture and irrigation.” 

In addition, he elaborated: “Our newly formed MoU with ICBA, directly complements our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that seek to support local society; by tactically assisting the progression of educational and social causes. The Emirates Soil Museum, an exciting addition to our UAE portfolio, will now enjoy the use of cutting edge technologies within the spheres of augmented reality and audio-visuals, guaranteeing the Museum a hub for disseminating critical information for industry stakeholders and enthusiasts alike. At ADFD we take responsibility to arm our youth with the learning opportunities to defend our food source and the preservation of our land.”

Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA, said: “As soil is a non-renewable resource, it is essential to ensure its preservation for food security and a sustainable future. This requires continued public awareness of the importance of soil and the negative impact of unsustainable uses of soil. Therefore, we are setting up the Emirates Soil Museum with support from the Government of the UAE, and in particular Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), so that the museum will serve as a repository of knowledge for scholars and the general public who are interested in soil preservation.”

The partnership between ICBA and ADFD will help to make the Emirates Soil Museum a travel destination for a diverse range of international audiences and a unique establishment for the learning process of soil-related progression. 

The funding by ADFD will equip the exterior landscape with interactive learning features, enhance the interior exhibits with augmented reality, advance learning modules, develop an engaging and user-friendly website for children and cover operating costs for 24 months.