Meet Your Local Beekeepers
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The Beekeepers Association aims to create a vibrant beekeepers’ community in the UAE.
Let us introduce you to some of the members that are changing the local beekeeping landscape. |
The Professionals
Dr. Denis Anderson (Al Ain)
Dr. Anderson is an international bee pathologist. His research has determined the cause of several unknown bee disorders and in 2000, he achieved international acclaim for discovering the deadly Varroa Destructor Mite. Dr. Anderson is currently based in Al Ain and leads a team to develop a sustainable honeybee industry in the UAE. 
K. Mariana Reyes Q. (Dubai)
Mariana is a master beekeeper and trained vet, with a focus on honeybee diseases. She practiced beekeeping for over 10 years in Mexico and Canada and joined the Beekeepers Association as our outreach manager and educator. Mariana teaches the novice beekeeping course and loves to share her love of bees with children and adults through our beekeeping workshops. She also manages the Association's multiple Bee Gardens. 
Hillary Genuine (Dubai)
Hillary is an IT engineer that comes from a family of beekeepers in Kerala, India. He and his dad own hundreds beehives and manage a thriving honey business. Hillary has been beekeeping in the UAE for several years and gathered extensive local experience. He is an active member of the Association and a great support. 
Tiberiu Iosub (Dubai)
Tiberiu is a seasoned beekeeper from Romania where he owns a small bee business. Armed with his knowledge, he became a volunteer at the Beekeepers Association. As an active member, Tiberiu had a good opportunity to learn more about bee species in this region and how to protect them. |
The Hobbyists
Zahira Nedjraoui (Dubai)
Zahira is a hobby beekeepers who is passionate about bees. She is the founder and president of the UAE's 1st Beekeepers Association and set-up an educational Bee Garden at The Sustainable City. 
Asif Kibria (Dubai)
Asif is one of Dubai's first backyard beekeepers. He is passionate about hobby beekeeping and has appeared in several local TV shows and newspaper to encourage more residents to take up the hobby. 
Saeed Al Gergawi (Dubai)
Saeed is an Emirati beekeeper who has his own bees' business. He took the novice beekeeping course to acquire more knowledge and improve his beekeeping practice. You can follow his beekeeping venture on his Instagram account @Nativehoney.ae 
Sandra Carden (Dubai)
Sandy runs an edible education program at the American School of Dubai, which includes a garden, a kitchen classroom and several beehives. Sandy teaches about the importance of bees in our food cycle and the challenges they currently face. She is one of the 1st graduates of the novice beekeeping course 
Gail Nash (Dubai)
Gail's interest in keeping bees began ten years ago while living in Italy. Upon moving to Dubai, she joined the Beekeepers Association and eventually got her own hive, which she kept at the Association's community apiary. Five years later, she has 5 hives and is contemplating getting a FlowHive. 
Valerie Vogel (Dubai)
Valerie loves honey and so her interest in bees started to bloom. When she arrived in Dubai, she found the Beekeepers Association and registered to the novice beekeeping course. She keeps learning while managing 2 hives, at the Association's community apiary, with her friend Sarah, a beekeeper too. 
Sarah Vinu Jacob (Dubai)
Sarah was introduced to the novice course by her friend Valerie, which sparked her to learn more about her balcony's tiny visitors. After attending the course herself, she decided to team up with Valerie and have their own hives. 
Nabil Shaptini (Dubai)
Nabil has always enjoyed nature and gardening, and was surprised that bees (Apis Florea) lived in the wild in Dubai. After a quick search, he stumbled upon the Beekeepers Association and was introduced to our thriving beekeeping community. He now owns 2 hives on his terrace from which he harvests pure honey and renders beeswax. 
Cristina Lopes (Dubai)
Cristina comes from a family of beekeepers in Portugal. It is only after her visit to our Bee Garden that her interest was peaked and so she decided to take up the novice beekeeping course. Today, Cristina manages her own beehive and enjoy a special relationship with her beekeeper dad and now mentor. 
Stuart Youngs (Dubai)
Stuart, a pilot, wanted to find a hobby that is flexible and easy to access, so he thought that beekeeping was a natural fit. He attended the novice beekeeping course and can now take his knowledge and apply it to the next place that may call home. In the meanwhile, he manages a beehive at the Association's community apiary. |
Are you a local beekeeper too? please help us complete this list, contact us!