Overview
Wadi Asimah is a temporary watercourse in the Hajar mountains of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. It runs west wide from the village of Asimah to join Wadi Fara, its site that forms the area between Wadi Fara and Wadi Sidr. A popular destination for day trips and destinations, Wadi Asimah is famous for its lush greenery and agriculture. It is the site of the ‘Sultan’s Gardens’, an area with a lot of oleanders, grass, palm groves, and ponds that are frequent (and rarely) water year-round, as well as providing heron hunger. In winter, a mountainous Wadi will receive heavy rainfall, leading to severe flooding, and sometimes even hail. The villages of Asimah and Madrid and the course of Wadi Asimah were traditionally organized by members of the Mazari tribe.
Geology and archeology
Wadi Asimah is a geographically and ecologically rich area, with dense deposits and archaeological sites. Wadi Asimah named it ‘Asimah Window’, a place of meta cherts wrapped in a concept created by metamorphic events. Archaeological excavations of the Wadi Asimah area reveal signs of human settlement from the Neolithic to the present. Prehistoric archeological finds have been found in the area, which is home to the people of Umm Al Nar, the findings include a bronze cup, headbands attached, and sword belts. Many tombs from the past of Umm Al Nar were found on the edge of the valley. Iron Age discoveries have also been made in the river.
Lovely blooming
In the valley of Asimah, the vibrant landscape reveals the gray and brown of the surrounding Al Hajar mountains. These colors of violet, pink, blue, orange, and yellow are the flowers of the UAE Flower Farm in Fujairah, which Mohammed Al Mazroui donated seven years ago to keep his place in bloom. The recent flowering of the farm had 30,000 flowers, including larkspurs, hollyhocks, gladioli, sunflowers, snapdragons, and marigolds, to name a few. All of these were grown from the seeds of the farm itself, Al Mazroui selected from previous harvests. The Emirati, now 50, recently retired to focus on full-time flower farming. Prior to that, he worked for the Central Bank of the UAE for 29 years.
His interest in horticulture goes back to when he was young. “I have loved flowers since childhood,” she says. “Some places are famous for their flowers… I saw on the internet how beautiful they are in the US and Europe, I wondered if I could do the same in this country. So I tried to plant flowers here.” Over the years, he has improved his agricultural knowledge by cultivating a variety of crops and adjusting his methods to adapt to the UAE climate. “We don’t have the same climate here, so I’ve learned good months to plant different flowers,” he said.
His stay in the North Emirates, with its high altitude and mountainous terrain, has also helped keep his crops thriving. “The climate here is different from other emirates. They have high humidity and the soil is not very rich in minerals, ”he explained. Among the first flowers to be planted is the snapdragon, which produces the strongest flowers that grow on tall stems. Al Mazroui bought the first seeds from the US, and soon grew very large using his own. On the farm, a variety of yellow, pink and deep magenta plants are plentiful.
The farm consists of blue-violet larkspur, bright yellow dandelions and purple yarrow, a herb that produces fragile small flower clusters. There is also stock of hoary, saffron, white dill and coriander. Al Mazroui says he usually starts planting from September to October and harvests flowers in April or May. Flowering is sent to flower shops in Sharjah and Dubai, although the farm’s business focuses on selling seeds, which are usually sold to farmers who order on WhatsApp and Instagram. Recently, he decided to open his own farm to visitors, giving them the opportunity to make their own flowers and pay directly to the site.
During the hot summer, the earth is left alone. Al Mazroui then moved to another farm in Bosnia, where he spent two to three months with his family and cared for his flowers there. While some flower farms in the UAE rely on tents and nursery to grow their plants, Al Mazroui opens everything in the open air. When necessary, however, he sometimes uses planting techniques for certain varieties. For example, his next goal is to successfully grow tulips. Best known as a large exporter from Holland, flower species originated in Central Asia and traveled to Europe via the Ottomans.
Tulip bulbs are usually planted in the fall and continue to grow in winter. To replicate these conditions, Al Mazroui puts watery plants in the refrigerator before transferring them to the ground. He also has his eyes focused on the growth of narcissus or daffodil, which are planted as bulbs and produce white or yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. Like the tulip, daffodil hates the heat, but it is a challenge Al Mazroui is willing to take. He says: “I like to try new things. Hosted by the Emirati, UAE Flower Farm is a very special place, designed for people to buy flowers at low prices (either for you or for your own). Everything is grown from seed and lovingly cared for on a large outdoor farm, made up of spectacular views of the rolling hills of Fajairah’s Hajar Mountains.
A small trip from Dubai but, of course, is worth it – a visit here will benefit you especially if you respect mother nature and this unique small home business by enjoying the open air and being fully present, buying something you can take home to support farmers, and not delay. While we look forward to sharing with you this wonderful place, we remember that its beauty can easily be ruined if we do not respect it.
Opening hours:
UAE Flower Farm is open daily from 7 am to 11:00 and from 2 pm to 6.30 pm. The days of the weeks are quieter and the golden hour is especially beautiful.
