Six months after its establishment as part of the legacy of the 27th ICOM General Conference in Dubai, the city’s first native pocket forest at Terra, Expo City Dubai, is showing remarkable signs of ecological progress, offering early evidence that native forest ecosystems can take root and thrive in an urban desert environment. As the world marks World Environment Day, the project continues to demonstrate how local ecosystems can flourish within challenging climatic conditions, highlighting the role of urban nature in supporting biodiversity and environmental resilience.
Frankincense trees are flowering and fruiting for the first time. Some plant species have grown from 30cm to over 120cm. Monitoring systems are recording a 50% increase in bacterial activity and nearly 500% growth in mycorrhizal fungal networks beneath the forest floor. Most significantly, the forest is already generating insights into more efficient approaches to water use, data that could inform future urban greening projects across the city, while supporting the development of more resilient and sustainable urban environments.
The forest was conceived by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, in collaboration with Terra, Expo City Dubai, as a living continuation of the region’s first International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference. The project reflects a shared commitment to preserving the UAE’s natural and cultural heritage while advancing sustainable urban solutions that enhance quality of life and strengthen the relationship between people and their environment.
Inspired by the globally recognised Miyawaki Method and comprising more than 500 native trees and shrubs, it is designed to grow up to ten times faster and capture up to thirty times more carbon than conventional landscaping. Iconic species like the Ghaf and Sidr root the project in Emirati identity, while the site as a whole aligns with Dubai’s Public Parks and Greenery Strategy, which aims to triple the city’s tree count and expand biodiversity-rich green spaces.
Supported by soil sensors, AI-linked irrigation, remote sensing, and IoT-enabled monitoring, the forest translates the conference’s core themes of Intangible Heritage, Youth Power, and New Technologies into a permanent, place-based intervention. Rooted in ancestral knowledge and planted by youth, it stands as a tangible expression of how global dialogue can evolve into local, lasting impact. As it matures, the forest will evolve into a storytelling space where youth serve as its stewards. Together, these technologies transform the site into a living laboratory for studying local ecosystems and exploring future approaches to urban greening.
As Dubai’s only publicly accessible pocket forest of its kind, the site serves as both a community gathering space and a pilot for future green projects across the city and beyond. A practical guide to creating a pocket forest was made available to all ICOM Dubai 2025 delegates via the mobile app, open-sourcing the model for adoption in cities across the globe.
As Dubai marks World Environment Day, this forest, planted as the global museum community gathered, remains a grounded and growing symbol of how Terra, Expo City Dubai, and Dubai Culture are embedding legacy into place, and making space for culture, community, and nature to thrive together.
About Dubai Culture & Arts Authority
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is committed to enriching Dubai’s cultural scene based on the UAE’s heritage, and is building bridges of constructive dialogue between various cultures to enhance Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.
Dubai Culture is keen on reviving and preserving the emirate’s historical heritage and developing the regulatory frameworks for the cultural and creative sector in line with its strategic roadmap 2020 – 2025.
The Authority also seeks to empower the enablers that support talent and stimulate active public participation by investing in the various assets under its remit, including the management of five heritage sites, five museums, Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children, 17 archaeological sites, and nine Dubai Public Library branches, all of which help contribute to creating an economic system that invigorates the cultural and creative industries. The Authority also offers 8 services and 26 sub-services.
For more information, please visit the Authority’s website www.dubaiculture.gov.ae
Terra
Terra – The World’s Living Wonder – is one of the UAE’s icons of sustainability and a hub for driving climate action, environmental innovation, and increasing awareness of sustainability, biodiversity, and conservation. Born from the vision of a world where nature and humanity coexist in harmony, Terra invites visitors on an inspiring journey to discover environmentally responsible choices to protect our planet and witness how small, everyday actions can make a significant impact on the Earth. It is a living embodiment of sustainability through its structure that produces its own energy and water, and its mission to awaken minds, inspire hearts, and drive meaningful action to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for all.
The Pocket Forest joins a series of initiatives that position Terra as a flagship sustainability centre, from hosting the region’s first IUCN Centre for Species Survival (Fungi) to launching the Jane Goodall Pollinator Garden and spearheading the Dubai City Nature Challenge. As the site evolves into a centre for urban biodiversity and regeneration, the forest signals Terra’s growing role as a platform for change, education, and hope.
2026.06.05 Stockholm
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