Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) have announced the Al Freej Gardener initiative, which will connect residents with licensed gardening professionals through the Careem app from September.
The three bodies signed a memorandum of cooperation to support the rollout, Gulf News reported. The signing was witnessed by Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police; Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai; and Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality.
What the Al Freej Gardener initiative covers
Residents will be able to book services including home gardening, regular maintenance, irrigation system installation and maintenance, and agricultural consultancy. Requests will be fulfilled by specialised agricultural maintenance companies offering structured service packages.
Careem will require participating gardeners and service providers to comply with applicable laws and regulations. The platform will also coordinate with participating companies through the registration and qualification process before they go live on the app.
The initiative sits within an existing regulatory framework for the agricultural sector. Dubai Municipality’s website hosts Local Order No. 54 of 1990 on the regulation and licensing of agricultural sector companies in Dubai, alongside Administrative Order No. 308 of 1990, which sets out the implementing rules for that local order.
Roles of each authority
Each of the three bodies has a defined role once the service is live.
Dubai Police will run awareness and field campaigns across residential areas after launch, reinforcing understanding of preventive measures and procedures. Officials said the initiative is intended to strengthen security in residential neighbourhoods and support a safer environment.
The GDRFA will provide guidance on visa and permit requirements for gardening professionals. The authority’s involvement is aimed at preventing irregular practices and promoting legal compliance among workers in the sector.
Dubai Municipality will oversee sustainable gardening practices through training and awareness programmes, and officials said the scheme is also intended to help maintain Dubai’s green spaces.
Careem’s role extends beyond booking: the platform will support safety and security awareness requirements and encourage adoption of regulated digital gardening services across the emirate’s residential areas.
The cooperation between a ride-hailing and delivery app and three government bodies reflects a broader pattern in Dubai of using regulated digital platforms to bring informal household services, such as domestic cleaning and maintenance work, under formal oversight.
The September launch date is the next concrete milestone, with Dubai Police field campaigns in residential areas expected to follow shortly after the service goes live.
