700-year-old tree on sale for Dhs1.3m in UAE

The UAE’s nursery and landscaping sector has made headlines with the display of the most expensive tree of its kind in the region — a 700-year-old Baobab tree, priced at a staggering Dhs1.3 million.

Imported from South Africa, the monumental tree is currently housed by GREEN TREND, a landscaping company based in Dubai. According to Engineer Saeed, the firm’s Sales Manager, the Baobab weighs 35 tonnes and is believed to be one of the largest trees in the Gulf.

Scientifically known as Adansonia, the Baobab is often called the “bottle tree,” “monkey bread tree,” or the “converted tree” due to its distinctive shape and structure. These trees are renowned for their massive trunks, which can store up to 100,000 litres of water, helping them survive extreme drought. Carbon dating has revealed that some Baobabs can live for more than 3,000 years.

In addition to their iconic appearance, Baobab fruits are rich in calcium and are used both as food and for producing oil. Engineer Saeed noted that such ancient botanical specimens are increasingly in demand among luxury landscape designers and homeowners seeking rare and awe-inspiring flora.

While this particular Baobab now stands as a regional marvel, similar trees are native to Oman’s Dhofar Governorate, especially in the Wilayat of Dhalkut. The area is home to approximately 200 Baobab trees, several of which are celebrated for their exceptional size and age.

Other rare trees available in the UAE market include centuries-old olive and cactus varieties, with price tags reaching up to Dhs500,000, reflecting a growing niche for high-end natural artifacts in the Gulf’s horticultural sector.