Established in Dubai in 1977 in partnership with a Swiss landscaping expert, with the aim of utilizing the limited local water resources to obtain maximum results through modern and specialized technology, OIS continues to blossom today. Over the years, the 730-strong company has gained a reputation as exacting professionals thanks to their successful execution of a range of projects in the UAE for public parks, palaces, hotels, gardens, landscapes and golf courses. Says Peter Harradine, "We place emphasis on continually experimenting with different and contemporary root-zone mixtures coupled with computerprogrammed and localized irrigation systems, in order to guarantee enormous savings in energy and water consumption".
In view of the potentials in this sphere, OIS has also diversified and now distributes irrigation equipment and has access to a vast stock of other types of specialized agricultural equipment, with two mechanical workshops to provide after sales support too.
Involved in every aspect of the development, the design team excels in taking a 'can-do attitude' approach from the design inception to execution. "By undertaking diversified design problems of varied scale from public to private spaces, utilizing the multi-cultural landscape architectural talents to develop creative solutions, our skill set is unparalleled", he explains. One of their famed specialities, however, is golf courses and they have constructed the courses in Jebel Ali, Ras Al Khaimah, Arabian Ranches, Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, Dubai Creek Golf, Yacht Club and the Abu Dhabi National. Because the courses are situated in such dry, hot, humid and saline desert conditions, during the construction and maintenance stages, specialized supervisors and green keepers are employed to ensure daily control and adherence to the architect's design. Experienced staff, including green-keepers, horticulturists and landscape gardeners, ensures the highest level of expertise during the implementation, installation, construction and maintenance of these quality, sustainable Golf Courses. "Our team is undoubtedly the cornerstone of our success; since they have been trained throughout the world and have been chosen because of their experience of how to manage the inhospitable Middle Eastern climate".
One of the most critical factors with landscaping and irrigation is the quality and variety of the plants incorporated in the designs, which is why OIS builds and manages its own nurseries which supply all their landscape construction and maintenance contracts. Their experienced nursery staff ensures that the trees, shrubs, ground covers, bedding plants and grasses supplied from their nurseries are of the highest possible standard. Because of the limited plant material types available in the UAE, "we are continuously experimenting with myriad new varieties of plants to try and introduce different species into the UAE landscape" Suheil Najar says. To provide the most exciting and diverse designs the company also imports exotic plant species from many of the world's recognized horticultural regions, as far flung as California, Italy, South Africa, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
It is not simply the landscaping industry that depends on a reliable supply of clean water; the need for hydration in the region makes sea water an important resource for domestic water supply, irrigation, landscaping and farming. OIS has created a specialized division, which deals with the treatment and purification of sea and brackish water and has installed many desalination plants that ensure regular and constant water supply to hotels, hospitals and remote communities. This is a company with an ethical edge - one of OIS's main concerns is the protection and improvement of the environment which is why they cooperate with numerous international companies in order to solve environmental problems and preserve the region's fragile ecology.
From landscape design and desalination solutions, to flood-lighting to golf course construction; OIS is helping Dubai to flourish the right way, making green the way to go.