Abu Dhabi: The Department of Municipalities and Transport introduces fines up to AED 10,000 for damaging three native tree species, as part of a wider campaign including tagging 100,000 trees to preserve biodiversity and combat desertification in the emirate.
Abu Dhabi has taken a decisive step towards environmental preservation with the introduction of hefty fines for harming native trees, specifically targeting three iconic species: the Al Ghaf, Al Samar, and Al Sidr. Under this new regulation, residents, homeowners, and gardeners risk penalties of up to AED 10,000 for damaging these trees. The initiative, announced by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), aims to ensure the survival and ecosystem significance of these trees, which are integral to the region’s natural heritage.
This move is not merely about penalising those who violate the law; it reflects a broader strategy to combat environmental degradation across the UAE. The indigenous trees play crucial roles in supporting local biodiversity, providing shade, and connecting the community with its historical roots in the desert. The DMT’s campaign is aligned with ongoing efforts by the Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi (EAD), which has launched a comprehensive initiative to tag and code 100,000 native trees throughout the emirate.
According to the EAD, the tagging programme is designed to bolster sustainability and promote conservation by identifying all naturally occurring native trees in both wild habitats and urban settings. These trees will be fitted with identification tags, and their locations will be recorded in a sophisticated geographic data system. This sophisticated approach aims not only to safeguard the trees but also to enhance data collection related to their status, thereby allowing for better-informed environmental policies.
The tagging process, which involves collaboration with various strategic partners, encompasses trees in city parks, agricultural zones, and even tourist sites, marking a significant commitment to preserving Abu Dhabi’s natural landscapes. As part of this extensive programme, community awareness campaigns have been initiated, informing residents in multiple languages about the penalties associated with violations. This awareness is crucial, as long-term success depends on community compliance and support.
Moreover, the Al Ghaf tree, in particular, holds a cultural and ecological significance as it serves as a keystone species within the desert ecosystem. Declared the national tree of the UAE in 2008, the Ghaf is known for its resilience—it can survive harsh climatic conditions and provide essential sustenance for various animal species. Its historical importance further underscores the urgency of protecting these trees from threats posed by urbanisation, overgrazing, and climate change.
The EAD’s efforts will also extend to monitoring and collecting detailed assessments of tree health, which will aid in combatting desertification and mitigating climate impacts. By implementing a scientific approach to tree conservation, the programme sets a precedent for environmental stewardship in the region.
As Abu Dhabi moves forward with these ambitious plans, the collective responsibility for protecting its native flora becomes increasingly vital. The steep fines serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to safeguard these natural treasures and preserve the emirate’s rich ecological legacy for future generations.
Reference Map
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://yallaabudhabi.ae/sustainability/abu-dhabi-native-tree-fine-2025/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/watch-abu-dhabi-to-tag-100000-native-trees-fine-violators-dh10000-1.102206793 – Abu Dhabi’s Environment Agency (EAD) has expanded its native tree-tagging program to include all naturally occurring native trees in the emirate’s wild habitats and natural reserves. The initiative aims to tag 100,000 native trees, including Ghaf, Samar, and Sidr species, to bolster sustainability and protect Abu Dhabi’s natural heritage. The program will also cover trees in city parks, urban areas, and along roadsides, managed by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). The EAD has implemented community awareness messages regarding violations and associated administrative fines as stipulated in EAD’s Board Resolution No. (2) of 2021, addressing infringements on native trees both within and outside natural reserves. These messages have been incorporated onto identification tree tags/signs, presented in Arabic, English, and Urdu, affixed to tree trunks. This measure is expected to bolster the agency’s efforts in enforcing approved environmental laws and legislation. The program will also contribute to enhancing data quality and updating the knowledge repository of relevant authorities concerning the status of native trees. It will achieve this by gathering comprehensive information specifically designed for utilization in specialized data collection and geographic linking applications. These applications are designed to facilitate the direct transfer of field data to the EAD’s environmental database, enabling real-time reporting on the program’s advancements. Furthermore, the agency will collaborate with its partners to execute the electronic coding of native trees situated in forests and along highway belts, totaling over 20 million trees.
- https://www.ead.gov.ae/en/Media-Centre/News/Tree-Tagging-Programme-2024 – The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced the expansion of its native tree-tagging programs to encompass all naturally occurring native trees in Abu Dhabi’s wild habitats and natural reserves. This initiative is a collaborative effort with the Agency’s strategic partners aimed at bolstering sustainability, safeguarding Abu Dhabi’s natural heritage, and reinforcing the emirate’s position as a leader in environmental endeavors. The Agency aims to tag 100,000 native trees as part of the program, encompassing Ghaf, Samar, and Sidr trees, all of which naturally thrive in wild habitats and Protected Areas. In collaboration with its strategic partners, EAD has formulated the standards for tree tagging activities, which will be executed in diverse regions across the emirate. The program will be expanded to encompass trees in city parks, urban areas, and along roadsides through the tree-tagging initiative managed by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). Additionally, native trees situated in agricultural zones and tourist sites will be included in the program, with collaboration and coordination involving the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT). Furthermore, the program entails collecting data on the status of trees, aligning with standards compatible with the databases of the Statistics Center – Abu Dhabi (SCAD).
- https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/environment/environment-agency-abu-dhabi-to-tag-100000-trees-across-the-emirate/ – The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has expanded its native tree-tagging program to include all naturally occurring native trees in Abu Dhabi’s wild habitats and natural reserves. The initiative aims to tag 100,000 native trees, including Ghaf, Samar, and Sidr species, to bolster sustainability and protect Abu Dhabi’s natural heritage. The program will also cover trees in city parks, urban areas, and along roadsides, managed by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). The EAD has implemented community awareness messages regarding violations and associated administrative fines as stipulated in EAD’s Board Resolution No. (2) of 2021, addressing infringements on native trees both within and outside natural reserves. These messages have been incorporated onto identification tree tags/signs, presented in Arabic, English, and Urdu, affixed to tree trunks. This measure is expected to bolster the agency’s efforts in enforcing approved environmental laws and legislation. The program will also contribute to enhancing data quality and updating the knowledge repository of relevant authorities concerning the status of native trees. It will achieve this by gathering comprehensive information specifically designed for utilization in specialized data collection and geographic linking applications. These applications are designed to facilitate the direct transfer of field data to the EAD’s environmental database, enabling real-time reporting on the program’s advancements. Furthermore, the agency will collaborate with its partners to execute the electronic coding of native trees situated in forests and along highway belts, totaling over 20 million trees.
- https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/environment/environment-agency-abu-dhabi-begins-census-and-numbering-historical-and-threatened-local-trees-to-protect-and-preserve/ – The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has launched an ambitious project aimed at numbering and coding old, threatened trees with historical importance in their natural environments and habitats spread across the emirate of Abu Dhabi – a first for the Agency. The Agency will implement the numbering program through dual initiatives, which includes giving each tree an identification tag bearing serial numbers classified according to the tree type, in addition to electronically numbering trees and identifying them via serial codes linked to geographical databases. This process is being implemented in this integrated form for the first time at the local and regional levels. The program will start from its mountainous protected area “Jebel Hafeet National Park” in Al Ain city, where EAD has implemented a project to rehabilitate Samar trees in areas affected by climate change, illegal human violations, and infrastructure development projects. The Agency plans to tag 1,500 Samar trees in the protected area in the first phase of the project, in addition to 1,500 Ghaf trees across the Emirate by the end of the year. The trees will be tagged with specially designed metal panels bearing the species details and tag identification numbers. Through the project, EAD seeks to achieve its environmental and cultural objectives of protecting local trees from illegal activities. This will be done by providing tags on the trees. The project will also contribute to enhancing the quality of available data on local trees in natural habitats, a detailed assessment of the condition of each tree as well as other morphological information which will further help in assessing their resilience in combating desertification and mitigating impacts of climate change.
- https://www.ead.gov.ae/en/discover-our-biodiversity/plants/ghaf-tree/ – The Ghaf is a drought-tolerant tree, which can remain green even in harsh desert environments. It is essential for the survival of animal and plant species alike. The Ghaf is the national tree of the UAE as it is a historic and cultural symbol of stability and peace in the UAE’s desert environment. Key threats include urbanization and infrastructure development resulting in habitat loss, and overgrazing. The Ghaf tree was declared the national tree of the UAE in 2008 because of its cultural and traditional significance. Ghaf trees can live for up to 120 years on average. A well-known example of the Ghaf is the 400-year-old ‘Tree of Life’ in Bahrain, which is still growing in the desert without any obvious sources of water. Traditionally Ghaf leaves and pods provided food and its nutritious branches were used for livestock. The tree was also traditionally used for its medicinal properties.
- https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/watch-how-abu-dhabi-tags-and-monitors-old-native-trees-to-ensure-their-protection-1.82307287 – An ambitious project in Abu Dhabi will now locate, number, and specifically monitor old trees in the emirate in a bid to ensure their protection from threats. About 100,000 Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria) and Samar (Acacia ehrenbergiana) trees—both locally important yet threatened species—are known to grow in the emirate and these will be identified and tagged during the Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi (EAD) project. Each tree will be marked with an identification tag, which will bear serial numbers classified according to the tree type. The tree will also be electronically numbered via serial codes linked to geographical databases. This project aims to tag old Ghaf and Samar trees of important environmental and heritage values. EAD has begun to implement the program by identifying the targeted tree species using satellite and aerial images and then storing the coordinates for each tree in a database. This is followed by the actual numbering of the historical trees. Traditionally, families in the desert tend to settle under the shade of Samar trees. These trees also include soil preservation benefits. The program has started from the Jebel Hafeet National Park, a mountainous protected area in Al Ain city. The EAD had earlier implemented a project to rehabilitate Samar trees in the park affected by climate change, illegal human activities, and development projects. In the first phase, 1,500 Samar trees in the Jebel Hafeet park will be tagged with specially designed metal panels or identification tags, along with 1,500 Ghaf trees across the emirate by the end of the year. Trees in Abu Dhabi city and Al Dhafra will be tagged in future phases. Through this project, the EAD aims to protect local trees from illegal activities and also to enhance the quality of available data on local trees in natural habitats. A detailed assessment of the condition of each tree will therefore be recorded, along with other morphological information that will further help in assessing the trees’ resilience in combating desertification to mitigate climate change.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is clearly current, discussing a regulation implemented in 2025 and referencing ongoing initiatives like the tagging of 100,000 native trees. No outdated references were found; the national tree designation in 2008 is historical context, not outdated news. The content does not appear recycled from older press releases but aligns with recent official announcements from the Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi and the Department of Municipalities and Transport.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
No direct quotes are included in the narrative. The information is presented in a summarised, factual manner. This suggests either original reporting or synthesis from official statements. No earliest known quoted source was found online; this increases confidence that content is original or based on newly released official data.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a regional platform focused on Abu Dhabi (YallaAbuDhabi), supported by credible references from official bodies such as the Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi and Gulf News. These sources are generally reliable for UAE environmental policy. However, the primary hosting platform is less internationally renowned, warranting a slightly cautious reliability score.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about imposing fines, tagging native trees, and environmental conservation efforts align with known UAE environmental initiatives and policies. The mention of AED 10,000 fines is plausible and consistent with recent regulatory trends. No contradictory information was found, and these claims are consistent with the region’s environmental priorities.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents up-to-date and verifiable information on Abu Dhabi’s new environmental regulations targeting native tree protection in 2025. It is consistent with official government initiatives and supported by credible local news and agency reports. The lack of direct quotations does not detract from credibility, as the information appears original or freshly reported. Overall, the narrative is plausible, reliable, and current.
