Hussain Al Hosani’s love for farming started in his childhood, when he tried growing small plants in empty Nido milk canisters. While most of his plants didn’t survive back then, this early experience planted a seed that would grow into a life-changing passion.
Today, the 41-year-old grows fresh fruits and vegetables for his family and even uses farming to help patients heal at the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), where he works as a patients’ affairs officer.
Al Hosani credits an incubator program by Gracia Group for teaching him advanced farming techniques. After joining the program in 2020, he mastered agritech methods like automated greenhouses and hydroponic systems.
These skills allowed him to turn his 5×5 sqm balcony into a thriving mini greenhouse, where he grows spinach, mint, strawberries, rosemary, and kale. His small balcony setup became the foundation for even bigger projects.
“Mental rest that comes from farming can only be understood by those who experience it,” Al Hosani said, standing amidst his professionally grown crops in rented greenhouses at Gracia Farm in Abu Dhabi.
From Passion to Purpose
Recalling his early attempts at farming, Al Hosani said, “I didn’t know how to properly care for plants back then. I used to grow them in Nido canisters, but they would die quickly because I didn’t realize plants need care, nutrition, and even vitamins.”
Fast forward two decades, after moving to a new house in 2020, Al Hosani created a home garden on his balcony. Inspired by his love for greenery, he joined the Gracia Group incubator program, where he learned the latest agritech practices.
“With agritech, you can grow anything in a greenhouse, no matter the space. It’s automated once you learn the basics, it’s as simple as using a timer and seedlings,” he explained.
Green Innovations for Healing
Al Hosani took his farming knowledge beyond personal use by starting a weekly horticultural therapy program for NRC patients. Over 100 participants have benefited from this initiative, which includes hands-on farming in a specially designed oasis called ‘Green City.’ Patients engage in traditional and modern farming practices, growing vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, and parsley.
The produce is shared with patients’ families and more than 200 NRC employees through another initiative, ‘Hasad al Beit’ (home harvest). “The healing effect is clear,” Al Hosani said. “Seeing the joy patients feel when they pick crops they nurtured for weeks is incredibly rewarding.”
Expanding Farming Ventures
Beyond therapy, Al Hosani has scaled his passion into a business. He rents larger greenhouses at Gracia Farm, where he uses organic fertilizers and hydroponics to grow snack cucumbers and other crops. Hydroponics allows him to grow multiple cycles of produce using rock wool, which retains water and provides aeration for plant roots.
Starting next week, Al Hosani plans to turn these greenhouses into a tourist attraction. For a small fee, visitors can tour the greenhouses and pick their own fresh produce. Additionally, he launched a foodstuff project, selling pickled produce under the label Ghilal, which translates to “blessings of the earth” in Arabic. His future plans include selling poultry and eggs from birds raised at the farm.
Hussain Al Hosani’s journey from childhood hobbyist to entrepreneur and healer highlights how farming can be both a source of nourishment and a tool for healing. Whether through agritech innovation or his therapy programs, Al Hosani continues to cultivate both crops and hope.
