(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) As many as 90000 people irrespective of their nationalities stand eligible to receive the green gift at about 30 locations across Dubai including major parks and municipal centres.
Director of Parks and Horticulture Department at Dubai Municipality Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Awadi presenting flowering plants to visitors at the Al Barsha Pond Park on Sunday. -Supplied photo
Dubai: Saying thanks with flowers is a practice in different parts of the world. This week Dubai is witnessing a special way of saying thanks: not just with flowers but flowering plants—not just with a few but a whopping nine million of them!
Giving away nine million flowering plants to the citizens and expatriates in Dubai was the novel and symbolic idea that the Dubai Municipality (DM) came up with to say thanks to the country’s armed forces whose contributions are celebrated to mark the 9th Accession Day of High Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai.
“One million saplings for every year of glory” read a catchphrase of the venture which began on Sunday the ninth anniversary of Shaikh Mohammed becoming the Ruler of Dubai. Since the 9th Accession Day is dedicated to the armed forces the saplings are distributed in their honour as well.
“We are proud to celebrate His Highness Shaikh Mohammed’s Accession Day in honour of the UAE Armed Forces” said Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Environment and Public Health Services Sector Salah Amiri.
“This is a symbolic way of honouring them and thanking their contributions. They work day and night even when we enjoy our holidays with our families… They give their lives to the country and to the people… They are protecting us and we indeed have to appreciate their efforts and thank them” he told Khaleej Times.
“By giving away the saplings which people can plant in their gardens or balconies we are also encouraging them to protect our environment” he added.
The Director of Parks and Horticulture Department Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Awadi said the department began preparations for the initiative two months ago. “Nine million is not a small number. We started our preparations for this week some two months ago.”
He said high quality F1 seeds of marigold and petunia were imported from Holland and were grown in the department’s nurseries.
“These are the same varieties of plants which we use in our projects. They are the best of the flowering plants and will last for five to six months. Each tray carries 100 saplings of either marigold or petunia. We will give away one tray each for all who come forward to receive them” said Al Awadi.
As many as 90000 people irrespective of their nationalities stand eligible to receive the green gift at about 30 locations across Dubai including major parks and municipal centres. A sticker on the trays read “Thank You Armed Forces."
“We are giving away the plants from 4pm to 6pm every day till Wednesday evening to make it more convenient for people to come and collect them. Each day we will hand over 2.25million plants in different areas including the outskirts of Dubai wishing His Highness long life and good health and thanking our armed forces” Al Awadi added.
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