UAE | General
Business is buzzing for Fujairah beekeeper
Ali Salem Al Dhanahani has turned his property at the foot of a Fujairah mountain into an apiary and is always on hand to gather the honey produced.
- By Eman Mohammed, Abu Dhabi Deputy Editor
- Published: 23:58 August 15, 2008
- The land is vast with mountains, valleys, and around 30,000 Sidir trees in addition to Simr trees says Al Dhanahani, beekeeper.
- Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: Ali Salem Al Dhanahani has turned his property at the foot of a Fujairah mountain into an apiary and is always on hand to gather the honey produced.
"The land is vast with mountains, valleys, and around 30,000 Sidir trees in addition to Simr trees and various wild bushes," Al Dhanahani told Gulf News.
"You can find it easily. It's the land behind Dibba Police Station," he said.
Al Dhanahani is an employee at Abu Dhabi immigration department but he always finds time to look after his bees.
He harvests Sidr honey in November and Simr honey in June.
Al Dhanahani inherited his business from his father and developed it further. His land is a protected area.
There are around 600 to 700 beehives on his land and around 1,000 hives which he has farmed.
He is teaching his sons, Ahmad, 10 and Abdullah, 14, the tricks of the trade.
The lack of rain has affected the production of honey as the tree and flowers are not blooming.
"I started planting the land in 1987 and I also added pools."
Searching for wild beehives is not an easy job.
"You could fall from the mountains. Many amateurs have died searching for wild beehives," he said.
Al Dhanahani has become immune to bee stings as he has been stung so many times.
The best honey is produced from Sidr and Simr trees.
"One kilo of wild honey could fetch Dh1,000. A kilo of processed honey sells for between Dh200 to Dh300," he said.
His yearly income from honey production is between Dh200,000 to Dh500,000.
There is an unwritten code in this business as there are thousands of people working in this field.
"When I find a wild beehive I put a sign next to it to show that it is owned by somebody," he said.
This sign could be just a wild plant. If a hive is still taken by someone else then an elder is called to give his judgement.
Health benefits
"It is known that honey is good for people's health. In past times every household kept some honey. It was used for various ailments such as coughs or colds."
He also added it was a natural sexual stimulant.
Share this article
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Mohammad approves federal demographic body
- Criminal wanted in 360 cases arrested in Dubai
- UAE visitor admits to possessing fake notes
- Men get bail in Dubai due to lack of translator
- Security trial in UAE adjourned until December
- Colombia seeks stronger ties with UAE
- Conference on combatting crime through sports begins
- Passer-by foils Dh2.5m robbery bid in Dubai
- Brothers deny vandalising plaintiff's car
- Extended break for Eid and National Day
- Free SMS offer for paid parking in Dubai
- UAE official urges corporate support for diabetes control initiatives
- Duo develop low energy desalting process
- Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides glimpse of Indian culture
- Sharjah book fair to focus on innovative publishers
Community Reports
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
-
Community report: Doing their bit for poor children
A group of students takes concrete action to raise funds for Dubai Cares
