Bee-coming Beekeepers: How Terra Is Growing Dubai’s Urban Biodiversity Movement
At a time when cities are expanding faster than nature can adapt, Terra at Expo City Dubai is offering residents a chance to become part of the solution—one hive at a time. Launching this January, Terra’s Novice Beekeeping Course is designed to nurture a deeper connection with biodiversity while empowering people to actively support pollinators in an urban environment.
Running every Sunday from 18 January 2026, the five-day programme blends education, conservation and community engagement, placing bees at the heart of Dubai’s sustainability journey.
Why Bees Matter More Than Ever
Bees are responsible for pollinating nearly one-third of the world’s food, yet they are under growing threat from habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. As urban areas expand, pollinators are often pushed out—weakening ecosystems and food systems alike.
Terra’s beekeeping initiative responds directly to this challenge, demonstrating how cities like Dubai can integrate biodiversity into urban life, rather than displacing it.
Learning from the “Bee Fairy Lady”
The course is led by Dr Meriem Hammal, a certified apiculturist and scientist affectionately known as the community’s “Bee Fairy Lady.” Designed for participants aged nine and above, the programme requires no prior experience, making it accessible to families, students and sustainability enthusiasts alike.
Through a mix of hands-on hive care, field visits and immersive classroom sessions, participants gain practical skills while learning the ecological importance of pollinators and ethical beekeeping practices.
“Beekeeping isn’t just about honey,” says Dr Hammal. “It’s about restoring balance. Pollinators thrive when we make space for them, and this course shows people how to do that with respect, confidence and care.”
Urban Beekeeping as a Sustainability Tool
In a fast-growing city like Dubai, Terra’s approach challenges the notion that biodiversity belongs only in rural or protected areas. By encouraging urban beekeeping, the programme helps:
Support local ecosystems and plant diversity
Raise awareness about pollinator conservation
Foster community-led environmental stewardship
It also highlights how small, local actions can contribute to broader climate resilience and food security goals.
A Living Lab for Biodiversity and Public Engagement
The Novice Beekeeping Course builds on Terra’s wider role as a living laboratory for sustainability education. Recent initiatives include the Jane Goodall Pollinator Garden and the ambitious 100 Hives programme, which aims to introduce beekeeping into schools, parks and community spaces across Dubai.
Together, these efforts align with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, reinforcing the city’s vision of greener, healthier and more nature-integrated urban development.
Reconnecting People, Cities and Nature
By placing pollinators at the centre of public engagement, Terra is redefining what sustainability looks like in an urban context. The beekeeping course is not just about learning a new skill—it is about rebuilding the relationship between people and the natural systems that sustain them.
As cities across the region search for ways to balance growth with environmental responsibility, Terra’s bee-centric initiative offers a powerful reminder: protecting biodiversity can start right at home—even in the heart of a city.
