Agriculture and forestry his major achievements

Dr Hamdan Al Darei Emirati researcher and author

“Looking back at the 37 years of his rule, Shaikh Zayed had not only conquered the sands, but also the coastal line of Abu Dhabi island and the UAE. Shaikh Zayed’s major achievement, which is second to none, is agriculture and his amazing achievement in transforming this challenging environment into an attractive one.

“In 1969, Shaikh Zayed established the emirate’s first forest in

Madinat Zayed in the Western Region. The total area of forestry, agriculture and landscaping and amenity plantation reaching nearly

749,869 donums.

“Shaikh Zayed was also alerted to the vital role of science in advancing his vision of growing crops and vegetables in the emirates. No wonder that he started the first agricultural experiment station in 1969 on Saadiyat Island.

“Thanks to Shaikh Zayed’s vision, the UAE is home to more than 40 million date palm trees and has the largest date processing business in the world, Al Foah Company, with an annual production of close to 113,000 metric tonnes.

“Shaikh Zayed also cultivated the coast of Abu Dhabi. Currently, the Mangrove National Park has 19 square kilometres of forest, and it is home to around 60 bird species.

“One of the most visible and enduring results of Shaikh Zayed’s efforts can be seen on both sides of the road between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. A treeplanting project that began in the 1960s continues to prosper even today, with more than 100 million trees currently existing within the UAE borders.

“Al Ain alone has more than 75 modern forests, each with an average area between two to three square kilometres. The variety of trees planted were chosen carefully and assessed for their ability to survive in the harsh summer climate, with greater emphasis on local breeds. It is no wonder Al Ain is known as the ‘Garden City’ of the UAE.”