While local farms are gaining in popularity with the UAE’s finest restaurants and pickiest chefs (who would import nearly every ingredient but a few years ago), one Sharjah hotel is taking baby steps in harvesting its own crops and then integrating each freshly produced lot into its daily menu.
Coralganic, as the miniature farm is known, was started on Earth Day this April and is the brainchild of Iftekhar Hamdani, area general manager of Coral Beach Resort and Bahi Ajman, both hotels owned by Hospitality Management Holding.
A harvest day is like a day of fortune
Iftekhar Hamdani,
area GM, Coral Beach Resort and Bahi Ajman
In only six months, 450 square metres of land, located within the property’s premises, produced more than 60 kilograms of crops that are being used in the hotel’s kitchens. “A harvest day is like a day of fortune,” Hamdani tells The National. “It feels just like yesterday when we began with a simple plot and built Coralganic and now we are reaping what we sowed.”
Hamdani says the crops – which include cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, baby radishes, mint leaves and lady fingers – are produced using sustainable farming methods and are certifiably organic. “We have taken baby steps and are learning along the way. Though the quality of lady finger wasn’t too great, the mint and tomatoes have grown nicely all year round.”
From the beginning of its foray into farming, the resort formed a “green team” comprising members of staff from various departments who volunteered to be taught about sustainability and culinary practices. “We engaged them so as to educate them to be part of the journey,” Hamdani says. The hotel also has two gardeners who tend to the farm and manage the green landscape.
Mangroves are part of the heritage of the UAE, and it is our responsibility to protect them
Iftekhar Hamdani
Head chef Sumeet Soni is also engaged with the project. From picking the vegetables to infusing them into the buffet, Soni ensures the fresh yield is part of the culinary offerings.
Guests, too, can opt to be part of the experience. “We take them for a tour of the farm and show them how we are growing the vegetables and then using them in the menu. Hamdani says that an Emirati man, who has been a patron for the past 20 years, has noticed the change in the freshness of the food. “This gentleman is a coffee lover, but now also loves the green tea we serve him with freshly plucked mint from our farm.”
The patch of land has already been readied for round two as the months of October to April yield the best harvests, says Hamdani, who is also is working towards eliminating plastic bottles in both the hotels he manages.
“I am liaising with the Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort team as they have eliminated plastic bottles at their property by introducing the Infinity water system and we hope to adopt a similar system very soon,” he says.
The teams are also actively involved in protecting the mangroves in Al Zorah Natural Reserve in Ajman. Mangrove forests are capable of storing 10 times more carbon than terrestrial ecosystems, putting them at the front line of climate change, Hamdani explains.
“With rising sea levels, mangroves are essential because we expect they will play an important role in protecting our shorelines from erosion. In my opinion, mangroves are part of the heritage of the UAE, and it is our responsibility to protect them,” says Hamdani, whose name can be found highlighted in the Syria Pavilion for the duration of Expo 2020 Dubai, in recognition of his eco-friendly efforts.
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Brief scores:
Toss: India, opted to field
Australia 158-4 (17 ov)
Maxwell 46, Lynn 37; Kuldeep 2-24
India 169-7 (17 ov)
Dhawan 76, Karthik 30; Zampa 2-22
Result: Australia won by 4 runs by D/L method
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
