The first vertical forest in the Middle East and North Africa will be built in Dubai, combining urban forestation, desalination and renewable energy systems in an arid climate.
A new model of urban forestation in arid regions
With integrated greenhouses and hydroponic gardens, the first Vertical Forest in the Middle East and North Africa will be constructed in Dubai. The project, designed by Stefano Boeri and commissioned by Impact One, aims to strengthen water system management in arid climates and define a reference model for future buildings.
The Dubai development follows the vertical forest already completed in Milan, along with projects currently under construction in China and the social housing intervention in Eindhoven, in the Netherlands.
The project will consist of two towers, 190 metres and 150 metres high, hosting 2,640 trees, 27,600 shrubs and a system of greenhouses and hydroponic gardens.
Water cycle management at the centre of the project
By choosing Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, characterised by an extremely arid climate, the initiative focuses on developing buildings capable of optimising water cycle management.
The Vertical Forest in the Middle East and North Africa will integrate desalination processes and greywater recovery systems, all powered by renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic systems, with a production of 5,100 kWh, alongside a hydrogen-based storage system. These technologies will also support the processes linked to water management within the building.
The concept centres on research into construction technologies, materials and circular strategies, with the aim of optimising waste management, resource efficiency and the entire life cycle of the building.
As highlighted by Stefano Boeri, urban forestation, especially in arid areas such as the Middle East and North Africa region, contributes to the absorption of fine particulate matter, regulation of the microclimate and reduction of the greenhouse effect.
In recent years, Dubai has increasingly invested in efficiency and decarbonisation pathways, aligned with the United Arab Emirates’ Net Zero 2050 target. Among the initiatives shaping this trajectory is the research technology district project developed by the URB team.
The vertical forest in the Middle East and North Africa represents an example of how architecture can integrate climate adaptation, renewable energy and water management in regions facing water scarcity and rising temperatures.
