With spectacular sky rise buildings, mind-blowing shopping experiences, fascinating things to do and many a luxury hotel, Dubai, doesn’t really conjure up images of gorgeous flowers and lush greenery. The reason being, the harsh desert conditions, in the centre of which Dubai is located, are not ideal for many types of plants. However, ask the right people and you’ll be in for a visual treat of a lifetime.
Ditch the traditional ways of exploring this metropolis and opt to take a few tours by bike or even try hiking. Yes, it might be a bit exhaustive given the heat. Therefore, ensure you are properly hydrated. Hotels such as the Desert Palm PER AQUUM, help facilitate such treks and biking adventures for guests. The city’s technologically advanced greening programme was set up with the sole objective of protecting Dubai’s native plant species.
Venture just outside of Dubai, near the coastal strips and you will come across the Desert Hyacinth. It is one of seven parasitic plants found in the UAE. This plant showcases gorgeous yellow flowers with splashes of deep red. The flowers bloom after a slight rainfall and the plant itself is tolerant of the severe weather conditions that prevail year-round. An interesting fact about the Desert Hyacinth is that it lacks chlorophyll, essential for photosynthesis. Thus, no green foliage!
Possibly the flower that inspired Sting’s smash hit single, the Desert Rose grows amid the native grasslands surrounding Dubai. Take a hike through the sands and you cannot mistake the ravishing flowers. They are of bright red in colour or pink with white tinges. Don’t be fooled by its gorgeous appearance, as its sap is poisonous.
One of the other popular flowers you will come across when hiking on the outskirts of Dubai is the Red Thumb. It is one of the handfuls of consumable plants in these deserts and is indeed a welcome sight. The Red Thumb has been harvested for fluid and food for centuries in this region. It is also known as the desert broomrape.
Roland Laefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.