Watch: Dubai students plant first set of Ghaf seeds in 20,001 trees initiative

More than 150 school students have sown the first set of seeds for what will eventually be 20,001 trees. The students, aged between eight and thirteen years, planted 2,500 Ghaf seeds in Sharjah's Mleiha on Monday.

Known for their ability to thrive in harsh desert conditions, these trees will mature over the next five to seven years. Ghaf is known to improve the quality of the soil and has a longevity of up to 120 years. One Ghaf tree is estimated to absorb over 4.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide during its lifespan.

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This planting drive marked the first phase of a broader ‘20,001 Trees for a Greener UAE’ initiative launched by Innoventures Education. The next batch of 2,000 trees is scheduled for planting in November, the group said.

Watch the video, by KT videographer Muhammad Sajjad, here:

Coinciding with the education group’s 20th anniversary celebrations, the sustainable initiative also supports the UAE’s 'Plant the Emirates' campaign.

Poonam Bhojani, CEO of Innoventures Education, stressed the symbolic and practical impact of the tree-planting drive: “This initiative is a celebration of our two decades of commitment to education, now extended to sustainable action. We are not just planting trees, but nurturing a greener future for our students, the community, and the nation.”

Students also expressed their enthusiasm for the event. “It is very nice to give back to the environment and I feel like by doing this, students are gaining good experience along with physical exercise,” said Maya, a Grade 11 student at Raffles World Academy.

For Malak, a Grade 12 student from Collegiate International School, the experience of planting trees in the desert is a memory he will cherish. “I really enjoyed volunteering in planting the trees, and this experience made me want to do it in the further,” he said.

Candice Combrinck, head of primary, and vice-principal at Dubai International Academy Al Barsha, noted that planting Ghaf trees is “a meaningful way to demonstrate our commitment to environmental sustainability.”

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