Al Naboodah Group Enterprises Creates a Sustainable Future for UNESCO World Heritage Site, Al Ain Oases Date Plantations

September 26th, 2017, Dubai, UAE – For years, Al Naboodah Group Enterprises (ANGE), one of the UAE’s oldest and most respected family conglomerates with a diverse portfolio of businesses, has been entrusted with maintaining the prestigious Al Ain Oases date plantations – part of the first listed UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UAE, and operated by the Al Ain City Municipality. Covering 3,000 acres, and more than 184,000 date palms, ANGE has long since committed to embedding sustainable practices at the Al Ain Oases, preserving a treasured piece of UAE heritage while embodying the UAE’s 2021 Vision.  

Managed by the Group’s agriculture business, ANGE’s sustainability efforts at the oases ensure that almost 75% of natural resources are saved. The Group has reduced pesticide use from 140,000 litres per day to just 18,000 litres, and minimised wastage by re-using portions of trimmed leaves for livestock feed. Almost every part of fallen or trimmed date plants is re-used: trunks used for furniture and planters for flowers; and leaves being re-purposed into ropes, or used to create barasti fencing and roofing for traditional buildings. Additionally, leaves are also up-cycled to create ornaments, baskets and furniture, preserving traditional Emirati handicraft techniques. 

Buti Al Naboodah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer: Commercial for ANGE commented: "Our passion to preserve Emirati culture is demonstrated throughout Al Naboodah Group Enterprises’ operations, and we are proud to protect the culturally significant Al Ain Oases date plantations. We cultivate the land to pay homage to our heritage while ensuring this legacy for many future generations to come. Through these initiatives we seek to enhance the community we live in and work towards establishing a sustainable future for us all”.

Al Naboodah Group Enterprises’ agriculture business is in strategic partnerships with several other municipalities across the UAE in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and in Al Dhaid to assist in protecting agricultural resources, and is considered the UAE’s leading expert in the protection and preservation of palm trees.