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Al Ain Oasis, the largest of its kind in the city of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, spans approximately 1,200 hectares and is home to over 147,000 date palms. This verdant expanse owes its lushness to the ancient falaj irrigation system, a network of underground channels that has sustained agriculture in the region for millennia.
“Sheikh Zayad II made all water shares free, in contrast to the previous system of trading water shares. “Maintenace and waste collection costs are alsocovered by the government.”
Dates bought at a fixed market price, but hes they don’t need the money anyway. But the question remains: do younger generations want to do this work? Communal Spaces are managed by the areef, litter, netting etc. Pesticide spraying is also paid for.”
Beyond pest control, the maintenance strategy encompasses efficient resource utilization and waste minimization. Pruning and trimming of date palms, essential for tree health and productivity, generate substantial organic material. Instead of discarding these trimmings, the oasis employs innovative recycling methods. Portions of the trimmed leaves are processed and repurposed as feed for livestock, providing a sustainable feed source and reducing waste.
Moreover, oral history preserves cultural identity and resilience, reinforcing the social fabric of oasis communities. As modernization and climate change threaten these fragile ecosystems, safeguarding oral traditions and vernacular knowledge becomes essential to adaptive strategies for environmental conservation and cultural heritage preservation.The falaj system ingeniously transports water from sources in the Hajar Mountains, situated several kilometers to the east, to the oasis’s agricultural plots. This method involves a series of components: Umm Al Falaj (Mother Well): The primary source supplying water to the falaj. Main Channel or Tunnel: An underground passage that conveys water over long distances. Surface Channel or Ditch: A ground-level conduit distributing water within the oasis.
“We set up local palm building workshops and provide food and shade for people to work in. We have a traditional crafts centre [‘souk’] in the oasis, which subsidises local people to come and get involved in traditional crafts...After intensive rains (2007), we worked on rebuilding parts of the Al-Jahili fort using traditional methods.”The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) has been at the forefront of these preservation efforts. One of their notable projects is the Al Ain Oasis Cultural Quarter Master Plan, which emphasizes the integration of traditional architectural elements into contemporary designs. “This is always how I’ve made rope, and it will always be the best way to make it. I use a little bit of water to start matting the fibres and then just twist. They’ve offered me to work in the AC, but I hate it in there, I prefer to work out here.”Beyond water management, the oasis’s preservation involves meticulous care of its extensive date palm plantations and other fruit-bearing trees, such as mangoes, oranges, bananas, figs, and jujube.Date palm trunks are utilized in the creation of furniture and as planters for flowers, while leaves are transformed into ropes, fencing, and roofing materials for traditional buildings. Additionally, artisans craft ornaments, baskets, and furniture from the leaves, preserving and promoting traditional Emirati handicraft techniques.