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QuarterFilling the Empty

Declaring a Green Jihad on the Desert

Abdulla Alshehi

Copyright © 2015 Abdulla Alshehi

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ISBN: 978-1-4834-2938-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4834-2939-7 (e)

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Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 04/28/2015

Contents

About The Author............................................................................................................... xiii
Foreword..............................................................................................................................xv
Introduction......................................................................................................................xvii

Our Journey.............................................................................................................................................xvii
Why Now and Why the Desert?........................................................................................................xviii
Saving & Harvesting Water Are Key..................................................................................................xix
A Few Words on Jihad............................................................................................................................xx
Why the UAE?..........................................................................................................................................xxi

Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter........................................................................... 1

The Great Green Wall of the UAE......................................................................................................... 1

How it Might Work.....................................................................................................................................3

Carbon Dioxide Reduction.................................................................................................................... 3
Protect Soil and Prevent Erosion.......................................................................................................... 3
Temperature Control............................................................................................................................. 4

A Greenbelt in the UAE........................................................................................................................... 4

Desertification Explained...................................................................................................................... 5
What a Full Quarter Would Look Like................................................................................................... 6

Envisioning a Full Quarter.......................................................................................................................7

The Great Green Wall of the UAE 100 Million Trees:............................................................................ 9
The Methodologies at Work.................................................................................................................. 9

Bombs of Life!!!.......................................................................................................................................... 11
The Green Fund........................................................................................................................................ 12

Funding............................................................................................................................................... 12
The Goals of the Green Fund............................................................................................................. 14
What the Decades Bring..................................................................................................................... 15

Challenges to the Full Quarter.............................................................................................................16

Spreading Greenery............................................................................................................................ 16

Proposed Milestones for the Full Quarter Project..........................................................................18

The Development of the Full Quarter Concept................................................................................... 18
Getting Started.................................................................................................................................... 20

Chapter Two: The UAE and the Environment................................................................... 21

A Look at the UAE............................................................................................................................... 21
How Agriculture Works in the UAE..................................................................................................... 22
The Challenges Faced by the UAE Agricultural Sector and the Solutions......................................... 23
Creating Soil From Sand..................................................................................................................... 24
Environmental Projects and Initiatives................................................................................................ 25

Agriculture Academies........................................................................................................................ 29
Water Dams........................................................................................................................................ 30

Masdar...................................................................................................................................................... 30

Environmental Measures in the UAE.................................................................................................. 31

Chapter Three: Islam and the Green Jihad...................................................................... 33

Climate Change and Changing the world........................................................................................... 33
Conservation....................................................................................................................................... 34
Plant that Last Tree!............................................................................................................................ 35
The Balance of All Life........................................................................................................................ 36
Humanity as viceroys...................................................................................................................................37
Changing According to Quranic Tradition........................................................................................... 38
Water and the Green Jihad - Evidence From the Quran..................................................................... 39

Chapter Four: Water Harvesting...................................................................................... 43

Concept One: The Endless Rivers of the World................................................................................. 43
The Broader Meaning of the Dasht Project......................................................................................... 46
Concept Two: Antarctica water Mining................................................................................................ 47
Concept Three: The Desert Lakes or the Underground Rivers.......................................................... 51
Aqua Net Explained............................................................................................................................ 52
Concept Four: AL Maa Harvesting Fresh Water From the Sea.......................................................... 55

A Detailed Description of “AL-Maa” Concept :.................................................................................... 57
Concept Five: Cloud Seeding............................................................................................................. 62
Concept Six: Water From Air Conditioners......................................................................................... 63
Concept Seven: Water From Volcanoes!............................................................................................ 65
Concept Eight: Water from the Wind................................................................................................... 66
Concept Nine: Water From Bikes........................................................................................................ 66
Concept Ten: Small-Scale Dehumidification :..................................................................................... 67
Concept Eleven: Buildings to Capture Rain........................................................................................ 67
Concept Twelve: UV Treatment........................................................................................................... 68
Concept Thirteen : In-Home Water Generators.................................................................................. 68
Concept Fourteen: Mist Catchers Net & Fog collection:..................................................................... 68
Fog Collection..................................................................................................................................... 69
Concept Fifteen: Solar Desalination:................................................................................................... 69
Concept Sixteen: Wind Powered Filters.............................................................................................. 69
After Capturing Water.......................................................................................................................... 70

Chapter Five: Water Saving................................................................................................ 71

Bathroom............................................................................................................................................. 71
Agriculture........................................................................................................................................... 74
Industrial & public................................................................................................................................ 76

Chapter Six: The Innovative Environment....................................................................... 80

The Green Lane Concept................................................................................................................... 80
Endless Power Concept...................................................................................................................... 81
The Wind Power Generator Concept.................................................................................................. 83

In Closing.............................................................................................................................. 87
Resources............................................................................................................................. 89



This book is dedicated to my Family and my Beloved Country the United Arab Emirates and to
all Lovers of Environment and Peace around the world.

Special Recognition to H.H. late sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan whose Green vision has
transformed the country into an Oasis in the middle of desert; the seeds planted by him is being
looked after by his Sons.



There is NO water shortage on Earth; but we are short of innovative thinking!
Nothing Impossible! The fact is we call things which we do not know “Impossible” ?!

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.



About The Author

Abdulla Alshehi was born in 1979 in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates;
and raised in the beautiful and mountainous emirate of Ras Alkhaimah where he completed his
earliest schooling. In 1997, he travelled to the United Kingdom to study electrical and electronic
engineering at the University of Huddersfield. His studies were sponsored by Abu Dhabi National
oil Company (ADNOC).

Upon graduation in 2001, he set out on an adventurous journey home. Using only land and sea
routes and transportation, he spent 53 challenging and exciting days making his way through
16 countries. From the port of Harwich in the United Kingdom to Denmark ; Germany ; Holland
; Belgium ; France ;’ Switzerland ; Italy ; Greece ; Turkey ;Syria ; Lebanon; Jordan; Saudi Arabia
; Yemen, Oman, and then the UAE, he arrived on August 6th . His arrival coincided with his
country’s celebration of the Succession Day of the late Sheik Zayed.

He currently works as the head of the Business Support Section of Abu Dhabi Gas Industries
(GASCO). A complete professional, he is also very creative, and this has allowed him to pursue
unique lines of business and research.

He established a mobile and eco-friendly car washing company in the UAE - the very first of
its kind. This was after he had acquired the master franchise through Geowash, an Argentinian
based firm. Geowash is a remarkably unique concept, using only three to five liters of water for
each cycle. This is astonishing when compared to the average car wash that consumes around
230 liters per cycle or vehicle washed.

In the desert area of the Middle East, Geowash is not only useful but one of the most impres-
sively “green” enterprises. It has saved a staggering 500 million liters of water that would have
been otherwise wasted - and this is in his home country of UAE alone!

He also the patent holder (received in 2013 from the Intellectual Property Office in the UK) for a
new technology related to harvesting rainwater. The details around this remarkable invention are
to be provided later in this book, and are only one example of his innovative mindset. In 2014,
he also brought the “Endless Power” concept to life.

Abdulla Alshehi is married and the father of one lovely child named Mohamed.

xiii



Foreword

There are so many ways we can save the planet, and it all begins with creativity and a bit of
courage. The vast stretch of desert known as the Empty Quarter is most certainly a place for
the brave as it is inhospitable and unpredictable. However, I have discovered that it is a place
that can be tamed, and tamed in a way that helps to save the entire planet.
Please, come with me as I guide you through my concept of reversing the desertification of the
Empty Quarter and the surrounding countries. Along the way, I want to introduce you to special
technologies that can be used to create a greenbelt, agriculture, cities, fresh water supplies,
energy, and more.
You will be astonished at just how realistic it is to say that we can turn the Empty Quarter into
the Full Quarter, and help to reduce global warming, food and water shortages, and many envi-
ronmental crises along the way.

xv



In the Name of God, the Merciful,
the Compassionate.

Introduction

It is the largest sand dune desert on Earth. It is full of exquisite emptiness, brilliant light, and
home to the slowly moving sand dunes of Arabia - dunes that refuse to respect borders. One
day these desert sands are Saudi Arabian soil, the following day or even the following hour they
have shifted and become Emirates’ soil or Omani soil.
Just what am I describing? It is the “Empty Quarter” desert, or the Rub’ al Khali. A place that
stretches more than 650,000 square kilometers and covers areas of Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Yemen and Oman. It is also the focal point of this book.

Our Journey

In the following pages, we will explore many concepts, but most importantly, we will look at a
plan of action with one major goal - to fill the Empty Quarter. Not with houses, industrial entities,
or oil wells, but with life and greenery that will be of benefit for all humanity.
If this plan of action is a success, and the Empty Quarter is converted into a green and lush
land, it will certainly help to begin permanently reversing the harmful effects of global climate

xvii

Introduction

change. I will prove to you that this amazing opportunity is one that will save millions of lives put
at risk by global warming, and it will save billions of dollars in disaster recovery that is sure to
occur because of climate change and rising sea levels.

From flooding to droughts and ever-worsening weather, the climate is changing, but the greening
of the Empty Quarter can help to save the world.

Of course, like so many things worth doing, it won’t be easy. In fact, the work we do in the next
decade or two can be seen purely as laying a foundation. However, it is a foundation, and that
means we are starting to build a brighter future for the generations that follow.

The global problems we face today, and which were created by global warming, did not transpire
in a day or a year, and they will take time to remedy. This plan to green the Empty Quarter is
long term and ambitious, but one day it can be realized.

Why Now and Why the Desert?

When this dream is brought to life, it is going to benefit all humanity beyond its ability to limit the
destructive forces of global warming. It will create a world more suited to growing food, supplying
clean water for the expanding world population, it will create thousands of jobs, use empty land,
and more. The list of benefits from this project is endless.

Because of this, I can say one thing right from the start: I personally, and very strongly believe
that there is NO water shortage or energy shortage. But, there is a shortage in our innovating
thinking to find solutions for these challenges!

Many of the past and current world conflicts have focused on three things: land, energy, and
water. In the future, it could still be these things, and most especially water, that create wars.

Can we not, then, give pause for a moment and consider the solutions rather than continuing to
create these same problems, over and over? For example:

• When it comes to fighting for land, it is not all that surprising since only around ten percent
of the earth is covered with inhabitable land. Yet, there is enough land to accommodate
the current world population ten times over, and even more.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

• When it comes to fighting over energy resources, we seem to fight for things that have
limited quantities. However, the world has more than enough renewable energy resources
to meet its needs.

• Making wars based on those two issues is utterly meaningless since the answers are in
our hands right now.

However, those who are in favor or supportive of warfare still have one more thing available to
use as a reason to fight: water.

Yes, water, and this despite the fact that we are all living on the “blue planet”. From space, the
Earth is blue simply because roughly 73% of its surface is covered with water. How is it possible
that we have to fight over it? The simplest answer is that we don’t have to fight over it when we
make it from available sources!

Saving & Harvesting Water Are Key

Clearly, the international community has to invest in new water harvesting and/or saving tech-
nologies far more than it has to invest in the machinery of warfare. Imagine the difference - far
more fresh water would flow around the world, and much less human blood.

This book will detail a plan of action to ultimately help humanity, so desperately in need of water,
by changing the so called “climate change” for the benefit of human beings. This plans contained
in these pages will outline and highlight a few initiatives related to water and environment, in-
cluding desalination and greening the desert.

I have written this in order to contribute to the global effort, as none of us can simply stand by
and watch any longer. Because of climate change and rising sea levels, our world is facing
enormous problems and threats. Yet, this book poses some realistic solutions.

It is going to describe outside of the box thinking and ideas. It reveals concepts that may need
further study before they can be implemented, and it is hoped that these pages will also inspire
more outside the box thinking and problem solving, too. It is going to take creativity and inno-
vative solutions if we are to find effective and deployable ways to harvest water and green the
desert, but when we do, we can turn the tables on climate change.

xix

Introduction

We can change the climate change itself, and to the betterment of all human beings. If we have
the dedication and the will we can turn deserts into blooming gardens and sources of food, and
we can give everyone more than enough fresh water.

A Few Words on Jihad

Before moving into a closer look at the different theories and steps needed to fill the Empty
Quarter, I want to spend a moment on the word “Jihad” as used in the title of this book.

In this current era, the Middle East is often associated with the term “Jihad” by a lot of the world
media.

It is rare that the term is used and/or defined properly. It is seldom mentioned that there are two
meanings commonly given to jihad. The first is an inner spiritual struggle, while the second is
an outer and physical one. The greater of the two types of jihad, is the inner jihad - the struggle
of the believer hoping to fulfill religious duties.

As a Muslim, it is my duty to ensure that I strive to change the unfair and inaccurate association
of the word jihad with war, death, or destruction. That is, in fact, the mission of any Muslim. To
achieve this goal, I believe all Muslims should call upon themselves, and the rest of the world,
to help declare a “Green Jihad”. In doing so, we would forever change the negative concept of
the inner jihad, and simultaneously conduct an outer jihad against one of the biggest threats to
human existence - global warming.

If we achieve this goal of changing the world’s understanding of jihad, it is going to truly help
everyone move forward and work together to meet some of the biggest challenges we face.
Our global “Green Jihad” would then be aimed at a common goal: to “forestify” the desert and
to begin to cool our warming planet.

We can replace many lost forests that were the result of disaster or human intervention. We
can use modern agricultural techniques to establish a living landscape, and ensure that filling
the Empty Quarter is not such an impossible thing to achieve. There is an enormous amount
of carbon emissions trapped in the atmosphere, and if we convert that vast Empty Quarter into
an area of forests, plantations, and fresh water irrigation and desalination we can start reducing
those gases.

xx

Filling the Empty Quarter

Why the UAE?

The plan is to turn the Empty Quarter into a blooming garden, but before we can do that, we also
need to secure adequate water resources. Current practices in desalination are insufficient to
meet the demands of such a project, and the well-known environmental impacts of these pro-
cesses are a problem that must be addressed, too. We must also recognize that the tremendous
costs/investments required are likely to create a few hurdles.
Some of the concepts proposed in this book are theoretical at this time, and need far more re-
search or study ; you will find that some concepts are new innovative ideas to solve the water
shortage issue ; they are unique ideas (product of my thinking) and some were researched and
gather via multiple sources. The United Arab Emirates stands as the most likely pilot run for these
projects because of its prime location. If these concepts prove feasible there, their successes
can then be duplicated elsewhere in the region.
Additionally, the UAE has been previously recognized for efforts towards stabilizing the global
environment. Consider that it is the location of the one and only eco-friendly city, Masdar, and
is home to the IRENA (International Renewable Energy Association) headquarters.
In the end, we want to strive to see that each tree planted in the UAE can positively affect the
climate in London, the South Pole, or anywhere else.
It is not important when we will finish this “Filling the Empty Quarter” project, but when we will
start it and my goal is to help get it started today.

xxi



Chapter One

Filling the Empty Quarter

The Great Green Wall of the UAE

As you already learned, the Empty Quarter is the world’s largest sand dune desert that covers
a large swath of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen and the UAE. However, looks can be deceiving
because those 650,000 square kilometers of sand and desert space were at one time a beautiful
and lush landscape with running waters and flora and fauna of all kinds.

Based on materials found, and which date back more than ten thousand years in time, the desert
has yielded evidence of inhabitation by rivers, elephants, crocodiles, and even more ancient life
forms such as dinosaurs. The western desert of Abu Dhabi (seen below) has been examined
and explored, and the discoveries are astonishing.

Scientists have revealed that around eight million years ago, this region of Abu Dhabi was popu-
lated with many freshwater rivers, and that it was actually a very green landscape. Descriptions
provided by experts indicate that it contained woodlands with trees similar to modern acacias
that the area had both a wet and dry seasons, and that it would have appeared similar to mod-
ern day Kenya with its wildlife and stretches of green or grassy terrain.

Rather than the Arabian Gulf and its salty waters, there was instead the classic “savannah” as
well as a massive plain with many rivers heading towards one destination. These all followed
the channel that are the same routes as today’s Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These waters
would have also reached the Indian Ocean near the Straits of Hormuz.

The Prophet Mohamed, “Peace be Upon him,” has prophesied that the judgment day will not
come until the “Arab land will return to be meadows and rivers.” When this will happen, and
how, remains a mystery, but the global warming phenomenon might be playing a big role into
speeding up this prophesy - with sea levels rising and weather patterns changing. We might
see it a reality within the coming 100 years or even less.

Currently the Arabian Peninsula, like all regions of the world, is experiencing a dramatic
weather change. From extreme snowy weather at the northern part of the peninsula to heavy

1

Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter
and unexpected rain throughout the region, unusual patterns are emerging. It is all due to the
current global warming crisis and subsequent climate change.

It is in the interest of our earth and the international community to fight climate change, and
the “desertification phenomena” worldwide; and the battle can begin with the biggest desert
in the world - the Empty Quarter. We believe that the “War on Desert” or the “Green Jihad” is
a winnable fight, and the outcome of winning this great battle is unimaginable and profound. It
will not only help and save humanity but the environment as well.

2

Filling the Empty Quarter

How it Might Work

Picture the desert - endless sands, brutal and relentless sun, and no water. How is it even
possible to imagine this becoming a place of abundant greenness and lush growth? It has to
begin with the planting of the most effective sources of de-desertification: trees.

Trees are the planet’s super heroes thanks to their photosynthesis and their other beneficial
properties. We cannot possibly overlook the importance of trees in the plans to green the
desert.

Carbon Dioxide Reduction

They are the engines that will start to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2), which is one of the primary
reasons for global warming.

Human existence creates a lot of this unhealthy gas. It comes about through the burning of fossil
fuels, and that means gas, oil, natural gas, and coal are all creating an unending problem. Trees,
however, take in this CO2 and “exhale” oxygen or O2 during normal photosynthesis.

Thus, simply by existing and doing what it is that trees do, they purify and balance the atmo-
sphere. They remove those gasses trapped in the air, which cause global warming, and convert
them to healthy air for all living things.

Protect Soil and Prevent Erosion

Of course, it is not only that they are able to perform this task alone that makes them the best
“first step” in the filling of the Empty Quarter. Trees also help to eliminate soil erosion from ex-
posure to wind and water.

Rain must first strike the leaves and branches of trees before it can patter gently to the ground. A
space covered with large areas of greenery is less likely to be washed away by even the most intense
downpour. Wind can have the same negative impact on soil that is exposed and unprotected, and
the roots and rotting leaves from trees will always prevent wind from lifting away upper layers of soil.

No more sand storms? That would be a great benefit! However, the lifecycle of a tree means
that roots spread out, cling to soil, add plant debris, create humus, and further prevent water
and wind from eroding the landscape.

3

Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter

Temperature Control

Of course, this support of seepage is not where the benefits of trees end, either. They are also
excellent for providing a barrier to harsh winds, and they can be responsible for keeping large
areas at much lower temperatures. This is because they keep the areas beneath the canopy of
leaves much cooler, and they even hold and release warmth in the cooler weather.
So, trees are gorgeous things to see, they clean the air, they prevent soil erosion, they block
heavy wind, and they maintain healthier temperatures wherever they are found.
Doesn’t this make the concept of filling the Empty Quarter with greenery far more appealing?
We must take this idea seriously because the benefits are substantial, and they go even beyond
those already listed, even beyond addressing climate change.

A Greenbelt in the UAE

Any effort to make the UAE greener will not be a simple thing to accomplish. As I described
earlier in this book, the dunes of the Empty Quarter have a tendency to wander and invade.
That means that one of the first things needed would be to create a “greenbelt” around the UAE.
This would have to stretch from Sali to Al Ain, and it could be modeled on Chinese methods of
combating desertification. They have used many clever approaches and have achieved great
success. In fact, an article in China Daily in 2010 identified a project strikingly similar in nature

4

Filling the Empty Quarter
to the very project I describe here and which begins with the creation of a greenbelt to halt the
shifting and spreading desert sands.
As I just mentioned, we have to begin with a greenbelt, to stop the expansion of the Empty
Quarter desert into the UAE land, which is mostly at the western part of the UAE. This is not only
a reforestation project (where roughly 100 million trees would be planted) but also an essential
development project. Because of that, it would be here that environmentally friendly technologies
would be used to facilitate human settlement.
It is important that humans do engage in this enormous project simply because social conditions
and social involvement in the filling of the Empty Quarter are the ingredients for a successful
program to combat desertification in the country and in the area. As a national initiative, it needs
support throughout the entire region, and that means its communities to support it. To understand
just why this is the case, let’s look at desertification.

Desertification Explained

The process known as desertification is not just the emergence of sand dunes but also the
absence of water. When water is present, at least some growth is possible (if not, just consider
any oasis). When there is water and growth, there can be trees. Where these thrive, there can
then be agriculture.

5

Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter

Unfortunately, there are two ways that desertification can occur: naturally, and because of human
intervention (usually in the form of settlement and removal of trees and sub-growth or the har-
vesting of trees for commercial use). We can only overcome either set of causes with enormous
manpower and effort. In other words, only if “constructive efforts” occur between the different
countries of the Empty Quarter region can the entire project succeed.

Thus, the importance of national and regional communities that set a perfect example and who
work together. Enormous amounts of work are needed to achieve such goals, and it is of the
utmost importance that the Empty Quarter - referred to as the “Full Quarter” when discussing
its success - does indeed succeed.

What a Full Quarter Would Look Like

If you are curious what a Full Quarter might look like or provide, just consider some of the sta-
tistics relating to the creation of the Full Quarter:

• If the Empty Quarter were converted to a green space, it could reduce the daytime tem-
perature by five to eight degrees.

• If that same swath of desert were green, it would cause around 700 to 1200 mm of rain
to fall in the region annually.

• A region of this size, planted in trees would also be able to recycle billions of tons of
carbon dioxide every year.

• It would reflect tremendous amounts of sunlight back into the clouds and away from the
lands of the area.

Clearly, it is a project that would benefit all of the countries covered by the Empty Quarter if the
entire project can come to fruition.

Though those facts do give a small illustration of what might come from the Full Quarter, they
don’t quite answer the “how” of it all. That means it is now time to give our full attention to how
it can be done and what other activities could occur in this enormous space.

6

Filling the Empty Quarter

Envisioning a Full Quarter

Now you should really start thinking of this as the Full Quarter Project rather than just a discus-
sion of the Empty Quarter and its possibilities. You should try to visualize it purely in terms of
its successful outcome. Of course, it can be hard to “visualize” something of this caliber, and
so we need to start taking it apart or deconstructing it a bit to demonstrate the true scope of it,
and how it can be achieved.
As we already learned, it is going to take a lot of fresh water to make it a reality. This would have
to come from the main source of water - the sea. This water would then have to be desalinated
before being used for irrigation. However, the Full Quarter could then be brought to fruition
through the use of specialized greenhouses.
Naturally, these would not be just any greenhouses. They would be enormous greenhouses
combined with concentrated solar power. The solar power would evaporate the seawater inside
of the houses, and then circulate the damper and cooler air throughout the space. Inside of the
greenhouses would be those millions of trees...hundreds of millions of them.

7

Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter
8

Filling the Empty Quarter

The Great Green Wall of the UAE 100 Million Trees:

As the strongest “first step” or first phase of creating the Full Quarter, it would be necessary to
create that boundary of trees and crops as visualized in the images above. Acacia and eucalyp-
tus (both trees) would adapt well to the heat and desert conditions, but only if properly irrigated.
That would be accomplished through the greenhouse system described above.

However, we should also look at comparable projects already in the works for evidence of the
overall viability of plans of this kind. We already know that China is reclaiming lands and forests
lost to the desert with greenbelt planting, but theirs is not the only model.

In fact, we can learn a great deal from examining the “100 Million Trees by 2017” project spon-
sored by the United Nations Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) and ENO Program
Association / ENO-verkkokoulun tuki, Finland. In this initiative, there are seven thousand schools
in 150 countries aiming to plant 100 million trees by 2017.

We need to look at all aspects of the program because it is using the same “community” powered
ideals, as well as the concept of trees to save the planet and to help address climate change.

The Methodologies at Work

ENO is a volunteer group that relies heavily on networking. The structure of the million-tree
project is built around national coordinators, schools, and partner organizations. In the year
2011, ENO brought together all of the national coordinators at a conference in Finland. There,
they all worked collaboratively to identify their goals and create their program’s implementation
methodologies.

What they did was innovative and creative. Essentially, they chose United Nation’s “thematic
days”, during which they would encourage tree planting. The days are in May and September,
and the themes are ecological biodiversity for the former and a day for peace for the latter.

Schools and program partners then use these days to ensure that tree-planting goals are met
or promoted, but also draw regional and national governments into the dialogue.

The anticipated outcome of their global effort? Consider this data:

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Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter

• 2011 would see seven million trees planted.

• 2013 would see 25 million trees planted.

• 2015 will see 60 million trees planted.

• 2017 will, hopefully, find the world with 100 million new trees.

The need for government support, however, is crucial as the cost for programs begin at roughly
$100k. This is to fund the acquisition of the trees but also to ensure that there are appropriate
areas for planting, expertise in the planting and care, and more.

What are the most realistic results of this sort of long-term effort? Though the goal is to get one
hundred million trees into the ground, the global shipping giant UPS ran some numbers and
provided data on the impact of just two million trees. It is such an encouraging outcome that it
makes the success of the Full Quarter project even more desirable:

• During their first ten years, two million new trees would use up so much of the world’s
carbon dioxide that they would be able to offset the use of 16k passenger vehicles in a
single year.

• They would be able to provide as much air pollution control every fifty years as $124
billion in traditional clean up.

• They would give eight million people on the planet the oxygen they require each day.

• They would take in more than 78 thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide in their first ten
years of life alone. This would do a tremendous amount for climate repair and balance.

(Via UPS.com)

Multiply these figures by fifty, and that is what can be expected from the success of the Full
Quarter. Naturally, there is the need to recognize that waiting around for people to work collab-
oratively or establish communities in undeveloped desert areas may limit the pace that desert-
ification can be addressed and the “Green Jihad” can occur. This is why I believe that the idea
of “seed bombs” may be also be a very wise one.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

Bombs of Life!!!

As I have said, the world needs to declare “Green Jihad” against the desert. And I feel it is nec-
essary for more than just reclaiming desert lands. I truly believe that some of the main reasons
for terrorism are poverty and illiteracy, and the success of the Full Quarter would bring a sure
and guaranteed end to these issues. Providing communities, jobs, food, and fresh water are
immediate remedies to illiteracy and poverty, meaning the Full Quarter could help to reduce
incidents of terrorism and violence.

So, why not drop bombs of life instead of bombs of death and destruction as part of the Green
Jihad? When we do, we will hasten the process of reforestation, and be many steps closer to
the end of global terrorism and the poverty that causes it.

There are a few types of bombs, and they will tremendously reduce the need for manpower to
do the hard work - saving time and money. Consider the options below:

Also known as “aerial reforestation”, seed bombing is a very reliable technique for bringing
vegetation to sparse or barren land. It relies on bundles of soil that contain living seeds and/or
vegetation. These are then dropped or thrown into the desired location, and allowed to work
naturally.

They have a colorful history and were once called seed “grenades” (in 1973) by environmentalists
known as “Green Guerrillas”. They were originally created with balloons and full of soil, fertilizer
and tomato seeds. They were simply tossed throughout New York City’s ugliest and most barren
neighborhoods to provide a greener and more attractive look to the city streets.

From there, the appeal of guerrilla gardening spread, but these were not truly the originators
of aerial reforestation. This was a trend that actually began in the 1930s when forest fires left
parts of the Hawaiian Island of Oahu bare of forestation. Local pilots used their planes to help
distribute seeds over areas that were not accessible on foot.

The success of this early effort cannot be overlooked because it proves how “outside of the
box” thinking provided for some very important solutions. Today, the technology behind seed
bombs is far more advanced, and the containers can also be part of assuring the success of
the “bombing campaign”.

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Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter

For instance, biodegradable containers can nourish the plant as they break down, or even work
like small greenhouses as the seeds germinate. Seed bombing campaigns are popular in areas
like Africa where wide swaths of land benefit from introduction of native seeds.

In general, seed bombing is done on a very large scale, normally by the hundreds or thousands.
They are only dropped, however, when they are going to survive. This means an adequate
amount of light, water, and protection from enemies such as animals that might eat them or
other plants that compete. This is one of the primary reasons that such a campaign in the Empty
Quarter would be a success - the right seeds would have no challenges to becoming established,
particularly once initial steps in creating the greenbelt had been accomplished.

However, it is believed that completely barren land could be successfully growing seeds within
weeks after a bombardment. The main appeal is that this land would not have to be settled or
colonized - or even accessible - and yet could be “greened” if handled properly prior to release.

Consider how the Haitian Aerial Reforestation Project overcame worries about seeds not get-
ting adequate water - the containers were crafted from absorbent materials that were heavily
saturated prior to the bombardment. The coating had fertilizer, insect repellent, and seeds, and
allowed them to sprout and establish themselves without concern of low or no rainfall.

This proves that the Full Quarter could be realized if such options were available, and if some-
thing such as government, business, and global financial backing were also part of the equation.
Rather than just a general investment, however, it would be far wiser to create a national “Green
Fund” that outlined the various phases of the Full Quarter project and ensured that proper funding
and progress was maintained.

The Green Fund

Funding

As indicated above, the Greenbelt or the Green Wall Barrier is seen as the first step in isolating
the UAE desert from the broader Empty Quarter region. Containing the sands around the UAE
border is the first essential phase and this would require the planting of trees whether through
building of greenhouses with solar capability or seed bombs (or a combination of both).

The second phase is the creation of the communities (food and animal farms) as well as the
industries associated with them - recycling, food processing, manufacturing, and so on.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

Any of these first essential steps, however, cannot materialize without a substantial amount
of funding and investment, as well as some preliminary research and testing. There are some
obvious ways this funding could be achieved, but let’s consider them in turn:

• Government, private sector, and public backing - It is important for the UAE Government and
the private sector, in addition to the public at large, to contribute to raising the funds needed.

• Global agencies - Of course, there is also the possibility that a special environmental
fund could be created by the United Nations, since the concept will positively and directly
impact the global climate and human population. If successful, the project will reduce sea
levels and global warming; and ultimately reducing the disastrous effects for the same.
Thus, UN financial support is also crucial and logical.

• Business investment - Because it is a multi-phase project, each concept would need to
be first studied independently and in great detail. Then their outcomes could be used to
create detailed feasibility studies. This would be the only way to determine if the ROI is
going to be enjoyed by humankind sooner rather than later. Until this data is available, it
could be challenging to obtain large-scale investment for a project without some guaran-
tees for success. When ROI is mentioned, however, it does bring the project into the arena
of the business world. This is why it is a wise idea that businesses based in the UAE also
contribute towards collecting the needed funds through things such as bonds or “Green
Free Zones”.

Government and business participation could include taxes and other activities, such as:

• Applying a one dirham tax on all Tobacco products

• Applying a top up of one dirham on all tickets issued by all national airlines

• Prisoners as well may be utilized to planting trees as part of easing their sentence.

• Donations

• Schools and Universities may also contribute by arranging for the tree day.

• Tourists may plant trees (Tour operators and Hotels to could be encouraged to bring
tourists and plant trees with their names!).

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Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter

The overarching structure of these various approaches at funding the entire Full Quarter project
could be labeled the Green Fund, and as just indicated, express that its aims are to create a
“Full Quarter”.

The Goals of the Green Fund

To promote investment, however, would require more than just trying to explain the benefits of
combating desertification or greening the environment. Though these are important, people who
don’t have easy access to food or water will care far more about those benefits.

For instance, the Full Quarter can be described as a project aimed at eliminating desertification
in the UAE, as well as in the broader Middle East, but also alleviating some of the biggest chal-
lenges to everyday life throughout the region. It is focused on three outcomes:

1. The provision of new water resources;

2. Spreading greenery; and

3. Raising livestock and promoting agriculture.

Water and food in addition to greenery - this is the best way to convince the broader public that
it is worth the long-term commitment of enormous sums and tremendous manpower.

It will also be extremely important to emphasize the many side industries that can and must
develop to support an ongoing program of this size and scale. Consider just the basic industries
that will devleop alongside those directly affiliated with the work on the Full Quarter project:

• Fertilizers plants;

• Recycling plants;

• Dates farms;

• Furniture and wood related industries;

• Meat, poultry, milk and other goods;

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Filling the Empty Quarter

• Sugar plants;
• Canned food facilities, and much more..
Yes, a project of this magnitude is a long-term ambition; which will result in making the region
self-sufficent and a source of fresh water as well as food and live stock within a period of 20-
30 years.

What the Decades Bring

When several decades are required to bring any project to fruition, it can often reduce investor en-
thusiasm. To further prove the value of this lengthy commitment, it is important to really itemize the
true long term objectives of investment in the Green Fund and the Full Quarter project. These are:

• Self-sufficiency where water resources and food and livestock are concerned;
• The ability to export the surplus water and food;
• Creation of many manufacturing industries;
• Providing employment opportunities;
• Protecting the environment through the deployment of green areas;
• Elimination of desertification fully; and
• Energy saving.
Now you can see how the project is shaping up to be such a friend to humanity, as well as the
planet. However, even though so much of what I have been communicating up to this point is
very positive, we do need to take a step back and consider the obstacles and the challenges.
To do that, we have to go back a few farther steps and really understand where some snags
and hurdles will occur.

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Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter

Challenges to the Full Quarter

The first step for greening the desert is that belt of greenery comprised of trees and only then
could crops be introduced by settlers. We have not, as yet really explored the issue of spreading
greenery, and we must do so now to recognize some of the inherent difficulties it presents.

Spreading Greenery

The first thing needed to begin greening the area is to source sufficient water resources.
Irrigation is a must (and we detail all of the technicalities of my proposed solutions in two later
chapters). However, this water sourcing has to coincide with the planting of greenery and the
subsequent spreading of that greenery throughout the Empty Quarter.

We also learned that the sands themselves need to be effectively controlled at the perimeter of
that first greenbelt area. This greenbelt itself would serve as a barrier to those moving sands,
but it would have to be done in phases.

These phases would begin with plants that need less water and which could be effectively “seed
bombed” into difficult areas.

Then what? My plan moves this first phase into a more technical stage that features the creation
of five new agriculture zones, with an average size of 30*30 sq. km for the purpose of growing
pasture, and some fruit and vegetables for human consumption.

Immediately we see the benefits of this multi-phase approach because it would only work if
there were strategic partnerships with all government bodies, the private sector, the general
public, and even some national and international groups. It would instantly spotlight the value
and importance of such initiatives for the global population (who all benefit from global cooling)
and for future generations. In other words, it would get everyone involved and active. Of course,
requiring this much participation is just as much a hurdle as it is a benefit.

And yet this would be imperative if the major obstacles are to be overcome. These include:

• Funding - As we’ve already realized, it is going to take cooperation to make this all happen.
We have to admit that the “Full Quarter” project is a mega project; which requires huge
funding. This obstacle can really only be overcome by partnerships between all national
and international environment bodies; such as the UN, EU, GCC and so on. However,
private and public investments have to occur, as well, whether this funding is supplied

16

Filling the Empty Quarter

willingly or through tax initiatives. This could make funding the project unpopular, and that
might present a real hurdle.

The tax on activities, products or services deemed harmful to the environment such as
airline tickets, oil companies, and even smoking could prove harmful to the reputation
and perceived value of the project. The UAE government might also establish a public
Limited Liability Corporation to raise capital to fund some of the project phases to give a
financial incentive to donations and support.

Tourism oriented towards interest or support of this globally valued project is good, finan-
cially, and yet problematic technically. Tourists want services, and to dedicate resources
and effort to creating tourist friendly locations can be inefficient when racing against the
clock. Though tourism would be a brilliant source of capital, it still requires initial invest-
ment to provide tourists with all they want/need at a destination.

• Labor-intensive - The project will create tens of thousands of jobs, yes, but take 30 years
for that work to show its full potential. The utilization of seasonal manpower hired from
the Indian Sub-continent may cut costs, and transporting via sea to the UAE can also
decrease the bottom line. The utilization of machinery; whenever possible and remotely
operated robots, can help reduce the need for manual or riskier jobs in the most hos-
tile conditions. The support of volunteer establishments (such as Takatof and The Red
Crescent) cannot be underestimated, and we have seen how schools and universities
can create excitement and enthusiasm that the labor intensity may reduce. Unfortunately,
the cost of domestic education in agriculture is high, and may limit the benefits of readily
available, domestic, manpower and resources.

• Studies first - There is the need for hard data and proof of feasibility. Thus, the delays of a
detailed feasibility study are required at almost every step of the way. These are needed
for each project, individually, and only then can they be grouped to see the overall “Full
Quarter” feasibility. Far lengthier than even things like clinical drug trials, these tests
cannot be rushed in order to get the idea “to market”, and investor impatience can be a
hurdle where proper studies are required.

• Lesser, but realistic challenges - In addition to the need for water, the cost of the project,
the labor intensity, and the time required for feasibility studies, the following issues can
become hurdles too: Damage due to rodents and other grazing animals (China overcame
this with iron fencing), soil deficiencies, extreme weather conditions, poor tree stock,

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Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter

inadequate site preparation, presence of unwanted weeds, total lack of water resources,
and a total lack of manpower.

Because so many of the hurdles relate to the extensive length of the project and the need for
full support (financial and human manpower), it is going to be necessary to create measurable
milestones and attainable goals for the project to succeed. These will give ongoing evidence
and support to the results, benefits, and need for such a project while reassuring all supporters
that it is not remaining perpetually locked in a theoretical status.

Proposed Milestones for the Full Quarter Project

For this dream to become true, the Full Quarter project has to shift from glorious idea to reality.
This will require careful planning, development, and management. I have already given over many
long hours of thought and consideration to the appropriate pathways for this project to succeed.

I am happy to present my development based on all of the facts already given above, including
ways of addressing all of the hurdles and challenges. This development includes details around
funding, timelines, and anticipated outcomes and easily demonstrates that it is an entirely fea-
sible approach, and that very attainable milestones are easily created.

The Development of the Full Quarter Concept

Who Will Support the Project’s Origination and Initial Development?

The Full Quarter Concept must be adopted by an international network of politicians, academics
and economists, with well-known international figures who will serve as the driving forces behind
the formation and development of the network.

The research institutes and the Environment Ministries of the governments of United Arab
Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Yemen must make significant contributions towards
the development of the Full Quarter Concept. Additionally, other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
governments should provide the same type of support and backing.

Who Will Lead the Project?

The basic studies relating to the Full Quarter Concept will be led by Eng. Abdulla Alshehi,
with all of the initial and resultant studies to be financed by the various environment ministries
of the GCC.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

What Will Result From the Studies?

The results of the Full Quarter Concept studies, as well as proposals for action regarding the im-
plementation of them throughout the GCC region (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Yemen)
will be summarized in a “White Book”, which will be presented in the European Parliament,
United Nation, the Gulf Cooperation Council.

How Will the Project Be Promoted?

Creation of the “Full Quarter Foundation” will be the next step following presentation of the White
Book. The Foundation is to be established as a non-profit foundation with the aim of promoting
the implementation of the global Full Quarter Concept, with a primary goal of “Fighting desert-
ification” all over the world.

Founding members of the Full Quarter Foundation are the members of the network of scientists
as well as committed private supporters and long-time promoters of the Full Quarter idea.

What Are Some Early Initiatives of the Foundation?

Among the first steps of the Foundation will be the establishment of the “Save The Water initia-
tive”. Save The Water is to be founded within the framework of the GCC Countries. This initiative
is aimed at promoting the conservation of water resources and water in the GCC region and
thus complementing the work of the Full Quarter Foundation.

Are There Any Other Cooperative Partners?

It is proposed that the Full Quarter Foundation then launch the “Full Quarter University Network”
as a platform for scientific and academic collaboration. The university to be committed to de-
veloping know-how and implementing study programs related to desertification, water science,
and agriculture.

Besides the Full Quarter Foundation, the founding members can be universities and research
facilities from the GCC, MENA (Middle East and North Africa), and the rest of the world - whom
will subsequently join the network.

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Chapter One: Filling the Empty Quarter

What is the Actual First Project?
The initial project in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman will be called “ALMAA” (AL MAA is the Arabic
word for water) and is to be funded by the GCC and the United Nation concerned bodies, the
world environment bodies as well as the private sectors.

Under the leadership of the United Arab Emirates, the Full Quarter Foundation and its partners
will work together to improve the framework conditions for the rapid development of water re-
sources in the UAE. This will be achieved through building capacity in education and research,
network studies, wind measurements, pilot projects and economic cooperation. This initial proj-
ect will use the following, two-step time line:

1. Establishment of ALMAA Company (focused on securing water resources)

2. Formation of International Farm/Agriculture Land Free Zones

The creation of this initial infrastructure and the securing of a workable system of water resources
will enable the project to move forward in a more targeted way with the networks of government
agencies, universities, and other participants formulating broader and more targeted efforts.

Getting Started

As can be seen by the development outline above, it is entirely possible to create realistic and
workable timelines for the success of the funding and initial studies required. This method would
align many large groups of supporters in the region and the world, bringing validity and assur-
ance, while also raising global awareness of the importance of the work.

For those unconvinced that the project could work, there is the example of the UAE to further
demonstrate just how valid the “greening” of the desert might be, since the country itself is living
proof of the possibility for de-desertification.

20

Chapter Two

The UAE and the Environment

A Look at the UAE

To offer incontrovertible evidence that a desert can be converted into a green space, we need
only take a look at the UAE - the chosen region for the pilot program for the Full Quarter Project.
There has already been an amazing environmental transformation made in the United Arab
Emirates. Learning just how it was transformed from a collection of tiny desert emirates into a
green oasis is important to see just how this can also be done in the Full Quarter Project.

The UAE is a federation of seven states known as “Emirates”. The UAE was united in 1971 and
almost immediately became a major player in global social economical, political and environ-
mental aspects.
The climate of the UAE is a mixture of tropical desert and desert climates. Essentially, this
translates to low humidity and high temperatures. Temperatures are highest in July and August

21

Chapter TWO: The UAE and the Environment

(usually above forty degrees Celsius in the coastal plains). The cooler seasons can see fourteen
degrees Celsius as the lowest temperatures in January or February.

With very little annual rainfall - between 4.7 and 5.9 inches annually (though some mountain
areas can see almost 14 inches of rain) - it can be difficult to succeed in agriculture without aug-
mentation of water supplies or systems for capturing and retaining rainfall. When rains do come,
they often arrive in torrents and heavy downpours, which is the reason for seasonal flooding of
wadis and canyons, and the subsequent dams appearing in the mountainous areas of the UAE.

And in spite of the challenges just described, UAE agriculture is thriving.

How Agriculture Works in the UAE

How is it possible that a region with such extremes of temperature and such unpredictable rainfall
can sustain agriculture? The reality is that not only is it possible but the agricultural sector of the
UAE is already considered to be one of the main pillars of the UAE’s rapidly growing economy.

The late, H.H. Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan had a very famous saying:

“Give me agriculture and I will give you civilization.”

Thus, you find that there is real care taken by the leadership of the UAE towards greenery and
the environment in general. It was predicted by many experts that the UAE could not succeed
on its greenery efforts due to the harsh environment and the geographical location, but the UAE
has proven that nothing is impossible, and the dream has become a reality...a blossoming and
green society.

The agriculture sector has improved tremendously since the creation of the UAE, and the country
is striving to become self-reliant when it comes to growing crops. Currently, the country is even
moving quickly towards exportation of it is produce.

The UAE has already increased the land area planted with fruit from about 28.9 thousand hect-
ares in 1994 to 221.3 thousand hectares in 2006. The amount of the annual change in land area
planted with fruit is roughly 8.1 thousand hectares, showing an annual growth rate of about 4%.

In 1994, annual fruit production stood at around 272 thousand tons of food produced. By 2006,
the spread of agriculture allowed a harvest of 782 thousand tons of fruit. There is also a lot of

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Filling the Empty Quarter

emphasis on the state cultivation of alfalfa crops (a form of hay), and though it is still being im-
ported into the UAE, current farming allows harvest to occur 14 times per year.

These figures do not include the statistics relating to reforestation. For instance, in 2006 there
were around 300 thousand hectares of forests (planted with around 60 million trees). So, farms
and forests cover more than four percent of the landscape, though they are spread out over
a diversity of locales ranging from the typical, modern farms of Ajman to those of the Algarve
region of desert and beyond.

Even unusual crops are possible, and in 1998, a flower farm was created in Suwaihan and is
already producing more than six million marketable blooms annually. These are export products
heading to Europe, Australia, Japan, and other destinations.

With more than eight thousand greenhouses and 38,000 working farms, it would seem as if there
would be no problems with expansion of agriculture and maybe even no need for the greenbelt
initiative. However, this is most definitely not the case and there are still many challenges and
obstacles for the agricultural sector throughout the UAE. However, the country has gone to great
lengths to find and use proven methods. These can be applied immediately in the creation of
the Greenbelt and the ongoing de-desertification of the Empty Quarter.

The Challenges Faced by the UAE Agricultural Sector and the Solutions

The agriculture sector in the UAE is faced with major challenges such as: desertification and
lack of water resources.

Faced with these challenges The UAE government continues to invest heavily into:

• Many desalination plants throughout the country

• Recycling the sewage water

• Modernizing the irrigation network

• Water dams were constructed to make use of the rainy season

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Chapter TWO: The UAE and the Environment

Creating Soil From Sand

To overcome the lack of minerals in the sand, and which are necessary to cultivate, there has
also been investment in the creation of fertilizers. Mostly based on organic sources such as or-
ganic waste and sewage, there has also been the creation of several chemical fertilizer plants.
The main area for these installations is in the city of Ruwais in the western region of the UAE.

The need for investment in fertilizer and water resources could have negatively impacted the
capabilities of farmers, but they receive support from the government through provision of free
seeds and some chemicals useful in cultivation. Additionally, there are many loans and grants
available for farmers and which have flexible features and options. This is how the agricultural
ventures have advanced so rapidly, and why the UAE model is a very important one for any
desert reclamation effort.

Of course, a lot of the success is due to the long-term benefits of soil amendment. If the long-
term goals of the UAE government agencies have been to green the country, it had to start with
reclaiming desert lands. One of the surest methods of reclamation is soil fertilization. Organic
fertilizers are far better than chemicals, since the latter are harmful to the environment and hu-
man beings.

Many farms and greenhouses receive support in their efforts at organic soil amendment, and use
a proven method that relies on organic “sludge”. Also known as bio-solids, this is nutrient-rich
organic material that is created from the processing and treatment of domestic sewage. Sanitary
and effective, this sludge is used all over the world to improve and maintain soil or to help less
productive soils become suitable for agriculture.

In the UAE, the original greenbelt was tightened around desert areas to slow or stop the move-
ment of the sand. It was also done to decrease the soaring temperatures. To do this required
the creation of fertilized soil in those desert areas, or other selected areas meant for agricultural
projects.

To do this requires a unique approach. It begins when trenches are dug to a depth of 1.5 meters
and a width of one meter. Most trenches run roughly 100 meters at most. Into them is poured
the organic sludge, to a depth of one meter. Soil is added to bring the trench even with the sur-
rounding ground.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

Trenches are spaced at roughly two meters between each, and once the trenches are filled and
covered a fermentation process begins. This effectively breaks down the sludge and allows it to
decompose into the soil and create a premium fertilizer.

After three to six months have passed, the trenches are excavated and blended with the sur-
rounding soil. This allows sandy soil to become much more amenable to agriculture, and is a
simple way of converting desert sand into a nutrient rich soil suitable for crops and plants.

Where is the sludge from? Currently it is domestic, but with an effort as large as the Full Quarter,
it is going to take large volumes of this sludge to convert desert sands to growing medium. One
of the more current ideas is to buy or accept suitable sludge from nations that tend to dispose of
it at sea. Not only would this spare the sea from large quantities of material that does not belong
there, but it would also ensure that large tracts of soil could be created quickly and efficiently.

This is the sort of “outside of the box” thinking that can take this project to fruition and is some-
thing that requires ongoing government support. As an example, the late Sheikh Zayed bin
Sultan Al Nahyan, - God’s mercy - who deserved the title of “compeller of desert” for his nota-
ble contributions towards fighting the desertification. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan
Al Nahyan, UAE President - may God protect him - followed the path of his father and leader,
increasing his support for agricultural projects, and the reclaiming of even more desert land.
Their efforts have been supported by the brothers, their Highnesses rulers of the Emirates.

Without such commitment of leadership, it is not possible to foresee the ongoing reclamation of
the desert as a success story. It is men such as these who have ensured that studies, experi-
mentation, and resources are continually directed towards humane causes such as these, and
why the sands of the UAE are not flourishing green land.

In addition to all that has been described above, there have been many other environmental
projects and initiatives that helped to establish the UAE’s agriculture and which can serve as
models for the Full Quarter Project. It is useful to take a look at them now.

Environmental Projects and Initiatives

What other steps have been taken to help make the UAE a green space and something reclaimed
from the desert? Below are other leadership backed, large-scale efforts that have already enjoyed
success can be put to use in making the Full Quarter project a success. Some of the most well-
known environmental projects and initiatives with an agricultural slant include:

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Chapter TWO: The UAE and the Environment
• Planting aquatic plants and mangroves on Sir Bani Yas Island - This Island was made to be

eco-friendly as it is home to many endangered species of flora and fauna. The energy needs
for the island are supplied through solar and wind systems, and it is currently seen as a safe
haven and paradise for a variety of plants and trees even on it is beaches - such as the AL
Qurm Tree. Many of the islands of the UAE have been given similar attention and effort.

• Forestation and preservation projects - The success of Baynounah Forest is one prime
example.

• Creation of centers for marketing vegetables by local farmers - Madinat Zayed and its
enormous success allowed for the spread to other centers to follow.

• Planting trees resistant to salinity - Ghaf trees experiments and initiatives were able to
provide successful results in the cultivation of plants using saline water in the irrigation
process. This was something implemented in Kalba and which was under the auspices
of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member
and Ruler of Sharjah,

26

Filling the Empty Quarter

• Select seed crop studies - One of the largest projects of its kind in the world and across an
area of ​a​ hundred acres in the first phase, select seeds produced about 27% of vegetable
oils suitable for human consumption, in addition to that 50% of those seeds were then used
as feed for livestock. Bean sprouts were part of the cultivation effort since they too contain
as a high amount of protein.
27

Chapter TWO: The UAE and the Environment

• Hydroponic studies - Growing without soil has always been an interesting option in the
UAE. Instead of traditional cultivation, plants grow in nutrition solutions to ensure the
supply of nutrients necessary. The use of irrigation pipes and water recycling make this
appealing. It has been accomplished in experiments conducted by UAE national Hamad
Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi. He was able to grow leaf lettuce by hydroponics. This
is a revolution in the world of agriculture because of the lack of dependence on the soil,
and the use of computers to precisely adjust and deliver nutrition solutions for roots.

• Dam construction projects - As mentioned earlier, these are in place to capture and pre-
serve water resources. The UAE has exceeded one hundred dams, and is still continuing
expansion.

• Seawater desalination plants and projects
• Plant biotechnology - The establishment of Al Wathba Marionnet LLC as a leading plant

biotechnology company in Abu Dhabi in 1997, was part of the UAE offsets program be-
tween France and the United Arab Emirates. It is considered to be one of the world’s most
important producers of Date Palms through plant tissue culture technology. Al Wathba
Marionnet owns a laboratory in Al Ain city where it propagates high quality varieties of
date palm in mass quantities to satisfy the increasing demand locally and internationally.
The strength of Al Wathba Marionnet lies in the good results shown in the fields where
hundreds of thousands of its date palms around the world are planted and no genetic or
physiological problem has ever been reported.

28