Nearly twenty years ago, Desert Group made a decision that had nothing to do with a mandate, a policy, or an awareness campaign.
In 2006, at Wahat Al Sahraa, our nursery operation in the UAE we began a workforce integration programme for Emirati people of determination. Thirty-two individuals joined, starting with practical, hands-on work in horticulture and nursery operations. No spectacle. No press release at the time. Just work, structure, mentorship, and the belief that these were people who were capable of far more than the opportunities available to them suggested. That belief has shaped everything Desert Group has built in this space since.
From Program to Enterprise
What began as an internal inclusion initiative gradually became something more. As participants grew in skill, confidence, and responsibility, it became clear that what was needed was not a programme, it was a pathway.
In 2015, Enable was established as a dedicated social enterprise within the Desert Group family. Its purpose: to move beyond the training model and create genuine, long-term participation in the workforce. Enable’s team members contribute to the creation of handcrafted home and garden products, support nursery operations, and take part in real business processes within Desert Group’s wider horticulture ecosystem.
They are not in a separate room doing a version of work. They are doing work.
What We Mean When We Talk About Inclusion
The word gets used a great deal. What we have learned, from almost two decades of doing this, is that inclusion without economic dignity is incomplete.
At Enable, participants receive 15 percent of the value generated through the products they help create, on top of their salaries. The remaining revenue is reinvested into training, operations, and the programme’s continued growth. The reason for that structure is straightforward: when someone sees that their contribution generates income they have earned themselves, it changes how they see their own capabilities. It builds ownership. It builds motivation. It builds pride.
“We want our participants to understand the value of their skills and recognise that they can contribute meaningfully to society and support their families,” says Michael Mascarenhas, CEO of Desert Group.
That is the standard we hold ourselves to. Not participation for its own sake but participation that translates into independence.
The Stories That Matter Most
The clearest measure of Enable’s impact is not in numbers. It is in the individuals who have grown within it.
Saif Saeed joined the group in 2006 as part of the original programme, beginning with basic nursery responsibilities. Over time, through structured training and mentorship, his role has expanded in ways that would have been hard to predict at the start. Today he supports sales activities, assists in training new participants, and plays a mentoring role within the enterprise. His own journey has become part of how Enable shapes the journeys of others.
“His story demonstrates how meaningful work, guidance, and opportunity can build confidence, independence, and pride,” Mascarenhas reflects. There are many more stories like his. That is the point.
In the News
Gulf News recently featured the Enable programme as part of a wider piece on how Emirati people of determination are building independent futures across the UAE — and how organisations are moving from awareness to genuine opportunity. Desert Group and Enable are among those featured, with Mascarenhas speaking about the programme’s origins, its evolution, and what the team has learned along the way.
Read the full Gulf News feature here →
Our Ongoing Commitment
Enable is not a chapter of Desert Group’s story. It is woven into what Desert Group is a company that has always believed the outdoor environments we create should reflect the values we hold.
We enhance lives through the work we do outdoors. We try to hold ourselves to the same standard in the way we work with the people around us.
If you would like to know more about Enable or explore how your organisation can support or engage with the programme, we would be glad to hear from you.