Abdul Hafeez the Green Man of Al Ain passes away

Al Ain - The horticulturist had arrived in Abu Dhabi in 1962, on special invitation by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

A UAE horticulturist and the first agricultural advisor of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who helped him turn Al Ain into a green oasis, passed away following months of sickness.

Abdul Hafeez Yawar Khan Al Yousefi, a long time resident of Al Ain, who was popularly known as Khan - the agriculturist, succumbed to his illness at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain on February 14, 2020 at the age of 82.

His son Khalid Abdul Hafeez Al Yousefi told Khaleej Times on Monday that his father suffered from some illnesses for a couple of months.

"He has been receiving treatment for some months and then died. It was certainly due to old age," said Khalid, adding that his father had a very strong will power that even in his last days he would go out to water the trees and flowers surrounding his home.

"He was such a loving, kind and friendly dad. He taught us many things including the love for people and greenery. We shall always miss him."

Al Yousefi, a naturalised UAE citizen of Pakistani origin, was buried at an old cemetery in Al Ain, just a five-minute walk from his home where he's lived for 58 years.

The horticulturist had arrived in Abu Dhabi in 1962, on special invitation by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was then serving as the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region.

With two degrees in agricultural science from Pakistan and Beirut, Al Yousefi, who was then 25, was tasked with extending his expertise in agriculture in the emirate and help transform Al Ain desert and turn it green. He got the offer through the then British political agent in Abu Dhabi, Sir Hugh Boustead, who had contacted Dr Jack Eyre, agriculture advisor to the British Middle East Last Development Division in Beirut and asked if Al Yousefi was interested in taking up an assignment in Abu Dhabi.

The horticulturist had started his job of planting trees, gardens and teaching people farming and growing vegetables immediately after meeting Sheikh Zayed the following day after he arrived in Al Ain. He worked diligently towards modernising agriculture in Al Ain and transforming the city into greenery till the time of his retirement.

Turning desert into green a challenging task

In an interview with Khaleej Times in 2018, Al Yousefi, who was the first qualified horticulturist in Al Ain, said turning the desert green was quite a challenging task for him, but because of Sheikh Zayed's great passion for agriculture, the job became easier and the dream was later achieved.

Abdul Hafeez Khan Al Yousefi with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan and other Sheikhs. - File photo

He recalled that agriculture was an expensive and tiring task at that time as they had to fight the harsh climate. But Sheikh Zayed had a vision of transforming Al Ain into a green oasis and he had a clear-cut budget set aside for that purpose.

"I have never seen anyone with great affection for greenery and so passionate about agriculture like Sheikh Zayed," Al Youefi said earlier. "He surely believed that turning the desert green was the only way to modern civilisation. And when it came to implementing agricultural projects, his imagination had no limits." He said Sheikh Zayed had money to build a modern city but he wanted greenery before modernity.

Among the first trees imported on Al Yousefi's advice when he had just arrived in Al Ain was the eucalyptus tree. Twelve crates of eucalyptus were imported from Australia.

Sheikh Zayed planted one of the trees (the first tree) in the garden of the horticulturist's simple old home located in the outskirts of Al Ain city in 1962. The house is surrounded by exotic plants, fruits and flowers.

Tributes from Al Ain residents

Dr. George Mathews, 67, one of the first foreign doctors to come to Al Ain in 1967 and who worked for the royal family, says he knew Al Yousefi as a very hard working man who dedicated his life to promoting agriculture in Al Ain.

"He's been my long-time friend. The horticulturist used to wake up very early in the morning to go and look after trees and the gardens. His contributions towards farming was enormous," said Mathews.

"Whatever happened in the agricultural sector in Al Ain was through Al Yousefi. In the early 70s, we were just a few expats here and he used to bring us together."

Sixty-five-year-old Emirati, Mohammed Al Hamadi, a resident of Al Ain, said the horticulturist did a great job of helping farmers.

"Al Yousefi had great agricultural ideas and helped teach many farmers in Al Ain. He did quite a commendable service to the UAE and we shall always miss him," he said.

Al Yousefi left behind seven children four sons - Tareq, Khalid, Rashid and Hamid - and three daughters, all working and living in UAE.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi