Dubai blossoms from a “desert city” to a “garden oasis” with first-ever Dubai International Garden Competition

Entries now open as the world's top landscapers battle it out to prove the “grass is greener” in Dubai

UAE, Dubai, 24th November 2013: In a landmark event for Dubai, thirty of the best local, regional and global landscapers are converging in Dubai to give the emirate a green makeover in the very first Dubai International Garden Competition. Entries are now being invited under an open theme, and will close on January 30, 2014.

The festival will be particularly beneficial to Dubai's real estate sector, as most property investors now seek more greenery to enhance the value of their properties as part of the world-class lifestyles that Dubai has become synonymous with. The winning designs will then be replicated or adapted in properties across Dubai.     

The competition will not only focus on artistic excellence but also technical and scientific ingenuity. In addition to artists, landscape designers and architects, it will also bring together leading engineers and scientists, vying for prestigious Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. There will be one Best of Show Award and One People Choice Award. To add expertise in eco-friendliness and eco-conservation, top botanists and horticulturists- will attend. Thousands of visitors are expected, and corporates are also welcome to participate as part of their social responsibility.
  
Addressing VIP guests at a special event to officially launch the competition, Nasser Khan, CEO of the completion organizers - Purelife Events, Exhibitions & Conferences - elaborated: “Dubai prides itself in achieving the impossible, and this competition is a shining example of how Dubai has defied its harsh desert location to create mesmerizing masterpieces of greenery. This is much more than a competition: it is an inspiration to the rest of the world - proving that if we can rehabilitate the environment and grow stunning gardens in the desert, then we can heal Mother Earth everywhere else.” 
                
Nadeem Abbas of Purelife added: “Dubai currently rivals Monaco as the world's elite destination for property investors. However this festival can elevate Dubai into the world's undisputed Number One - blending imaginative designs and therapeutic gardens, while staying deeply rooted in eco-friendliness. Traditionally this emirate has faced challenges such as a lack of shade from the harsh sun outdoors, but this festival can encourage more people to pursue healthier and more active lifestyles outdoors in their gardens. This truly marks a new chapter in Dubai's tourism, property and leisure success story.”

It is anticipated that as the event's reputation blooms in future editions, it will grow to rival the world's top garden festivals in prestige, magnitude and diversity.

Interested landscaping organizations, businesses, community groups, architects and other participants can register or find more information on www.digc.ae