From the greenest space in Dubai in the 1980s, the Safa Park, to the futuristic landscapes of Expo City and the Museum of the Future, the UAE’s green transformation has been extraordinary.
Transforming an arid desert into a green, sustainable landscape by infusing creative design and technical expertise in the horticultural industry, is no easy feat and the Desert Group, a homegrown landscaping company has been redefining the impossible in one of the world’s most arid environments.
Established in 1988, the group has spearheaded several of the UAE’s most remarkable landscapes and keeps constantly innovating, considering how sustainability has become a defining priority across industries in the country, the Arab world’s most vibrant ever-expanding economy.
“Desert Group’s vision has always been about creating landscapes that thrive in the UAE’s desert environment,” said Michael Mascarenhas, CEO of Desert Group, while speaking to The Gulf Pulse about the company’s history, milestones, and vision for the future.
“As the nation’s sustainability agenda has grown through initiatives like Net Zero 2050 and Estidama, we’ve moved from simply greening spaces to integrating water-wise irrigation, native planting, and long-term maintenance strategies,” he said.
At Expo 2020’s Sustainability Pavilion, the design arm of the group, Desert INK, introduced over 100 native plant species into cultivation, many grown from seed collected across the UAE’s wadis and mountains. Wahat Al Sahraa, the nursery division, has led propagation efforts, while projects such as Sharjah Safari Park and the Museum of the Future have showcased the group’s capacity to deliver landscapes of scale and complexity with sustainability at their core.
“We have always seen change as an opportunity to evolve,” Mascarenhas said. Desert Group’s portfolio reflects that philosophy, delivering ambitious golf courses and landmark projects through the Desert Landscape. Green spaces are no longer decorative, Mascarenhas added. “They create community, improve comfort, and add long-term value while being environmentally responsible.”
Defining moments, he said, are the ones when Desert Group delivered projects once thought impossible in the region. “They reflect the UAE’s spirit of turning bold ideas into reality,” he added.
MyPlant & Garden Middle East
MyPlant & Garden Middle East, a green expo for industry professionals in the live and designed green sectors will make its Dubai debut this November from 15-17 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City. Exhibition Director Valeria Randazzo said, “Expanding to Dubai allows us to connect global expertise with a region investing heavily in sustainability. Visitors will discover everything from water-efficient landscaping and climate-resilient plants to cutting-edge urban greening solutions.”
