The 47th Planting Week Unites the UAE in a National Call to Green the Future

From tomorrow through 8 November, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment invites individuals, families and institutions across the Emirates to plant and nurture trees, honouring the legacy of the Founding Father while advancing the nation's climate and sustainability vision.

Across the seven emirates, a familiar and cherished ritual is about to unfold. The 47th Planting Week, running from 2 to 8 November under the theme ‘Together, Let’s Plant the UAE’, represents far more than a week of horticultural activity. It is a renewal of the nation’s foundational commitment to transforming desert into verdant landscape, a practice that traces its lineage to the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose pioneering vision established greening as an integral value of the UAE’s development.

Organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in collaboration with federal and local authorities, the initiative invites communities to plant and nurture trees whilst fostering greater collective engagement in environmental stewardship. The endeavour reflects the leadership’s vision of protecting and nurturing nature for future generations, supporting national efforts to expand green spaces, conserve biodiversity and combat desertification. These efforts also contribute directly to the UAE’s goal of achieving net zero by 2050 and strengthening adaptation to climate change.

Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, emphasised the initiative’s role in embedding sustainability within cities and residential neighbourhoods. “Guided by the vision of its leadership, the UAE continues to build on the legacy of its Founding Father in protecting nature and conserving its resources,” she said. “Expanding vegetation cover and green spaces strengthens our capacity to adapt to climate change and protect biodiversity.”

The minister highlighted the particular significance of this year’s edition, which coincides with the Year of Family. “When parents and children plant and care for trees together, they deepen their connection to the land and learn together what it means to take responsibility for the resources that sustain life,” she explained. The initiative encourages practices that extend beyond the week itself, fostering a culture in which caring for nature becomes woven into family life and community identity.

Across the Emirates, the response reflects coordinated commitment. In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Municipalities and Transport emphasises the integration of green spaces into urban planning, whilst Dubai Municipality pursues ambitious targets to bring the total number of trees to approximately 3.5 million and increase green and landscaped areas by around 69 per cent to reach 187 million square metres by 2040, in line with the Dubai Parks and Greenery Strategy 2040.

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi has planted more than 75 million mangroves towards the UAE’s national target of 100 million, and cultivated and restored more than 1.8 million coral colonies against a target of more than four million by 2030. The opening of the Seed Preservation Centre in Al Dhafra strengthens these efforts to conserve and propagate native plants. As we reported in September, the Ministry recognised youth-led environmental solutions that address sustainability priorities, reflecting how innovation and intergenerational participation drive Abu Dhabi’s environmental trajectory.

Sharjah’s Environment and Protected Areas Authority, under the pioneering stewardship reflected in the emirate’s environmental vision, emphasises the selection of native species suited to the UAE’s environment. Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah each contribute their own programmes, from the Ajman Agriculture Award recognising outstanding practices to the Fujairah Environment Authority’s ‘Women Farmers of Tomorrow’ project, which empowers Emirati women in agriculture and food security.

The week’s activities span tree and seedling planting campaigns, workshops on plant selection and care, environmental awareness sessions, agricultural exhibitions, and educational and volunteering opportunities. Participants learn about native trees such as ghaf, sidr and samar, as well as mangroves in coastal areas, selected for their adaptation to the UAE’s climate. The Ministry emphasises that success depends not merely on planting but on regular care, monitoring and responsible stewardship, ensuring that this week’s efforts translate into lasting environmental contribution.

The initiative underscores the multifaceted benefits of expanded green cover: trees moderate urban temperatures, provide shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, stabilise soil and create habitats for wildlife. They create spaces where families and communities connect and find respite in nature. By bringing together institutional and community efforts, as demonstrated by decades of partnerships advancing sustainability across the nation, the week transforms environmental awareness into practical action that resonates throughout the year and across generations.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

Planting Week represents an opportunity for Abu Dhabi residents, families and institutions to contribute directly to the emirate’s environmental resilience and quality of life. The week aligns with Abu Dhabi’s strategic vision of integrating green spaces into urban and residential development, supporting the emirate’s pursuit of sustainable urban environments that enhance wellbeing whilst conserving natural resources. By selecting native species and practising efficient water use, participants engage in the precise stewardship that defines Abu Dhabi’s approach to environmental management in an arid climate.

The initiative also reinforces Abu Dhabi’s leadership in climate action and biodiversity conservation, positioning the emirate as a model for balancing urban development with environmental protection. Through family participation and community volunteering, residents strengthen their connection to the land and to the Founding Father’s legacy of transformation, embedding sustainability as a shared value that shapes both present practice and the inheritance left for future generations.

Source: WAM