The UAE places considerable emphasis on human resources development to improve its competitiveness through an efficient workforce, higher productivity, fair working conditions and social security. According to the Employment and Human Resource Report 2004, released by the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) in March 2004, the UAE is, perhaps, the only country in the world where foreigners dominate the private sector, both as employers and employees. This situation, the report states, is in need of ‘serious thinking and careful policy-making that sets targets with a long-term vision’. It stresses that in almost all countries that allow immigration, the rule is that foreigners are only allowed to take up jobs when suitably-qualified nationals are not available. This provision is also part of the UAE labour law. A study of skilled labour opportunities for nationals in the private sector by the Centre for Labour Market Research and Information revealed that training is a key element of a successful “Emiratisation”.

The Dubai Horticulture and Landscaping Academy will fulfil this need through a strategic training approach. The Academy will be created as a campus with up to 5 or 6 individual buildings with all necessary facilities like auditoriums, study and lecture rooms, laboratories and a “Green sector” library. The gross area of the academy will be approximately 10,000 m² in the first phase.

Its vision is to create a platform of career advancement and life long learning skills to meet the needs of the region in the field of the “Green Sector” of international standing and its mission is to work closely with regulatory organizations and governmental departments in order to provide high quality professional training and to create a recognized Employer’s Standard in the “Green sector”