Outdoor, full sun
Gum Arabic Tree
Vachellia nilotica, 3 to 4 m: a thorny acacia with fine, feathery leaves and yellow puffball flowers. Full sun and little water once settled.
AED 799each, 3-4 M, Nursery Pot
Prices include 5% VAT.
Height:
Pot:
Quantity
- Gum Arabic Tree, 3-4 M, Nursery Pot × 1
- AED 799
- Total
- AED 799
Free delivery in Dubai over AED 199.
Or split into 4 interest-free payments withtabby
Next-day delivery in Dubai, free over AED 199 (AED 30 below). Outside Dubai: Sharjah AED 100, other emirates AED 200. Fees include VAT
Arrives damaged or wrong? Send a photo on WhatsApp on the day of delivery and we'll replace or refund it.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Twice a week in summer for the first 1–2 years, then occasional deep watering
- Size
- 300–400 cm
- Where
- Outdoor
Why people love it
- A hardy, thorny acacia with fine leaves and yellow flowers.
- It tolerates drought, heat and poor soil.
- It makes a tough shade tree.
- It can serve as a barrier planting.
Worth knowing
- The ASPCA does not list it, so check with a vet if you have pets.
- Long thorns can cause painful injuries.
- Not a good choice near paths or play areas.
- Young seedlings grow slowly while they build roots.
About this plant
The gum arabic tree, Vachellia nilotica (formerly Acacia nilotica), is a thorny tree with fine, feathery, bipinnate leaves, paired white spines and round, golden-yellow puffball flowers, followed by beaded seed pods. It is native to Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent.
It is very well adapted to Dubai. It handles extreme heat, full sun, drought, sandy soil and salinity, and needs little irrigation once established. Young trees should be watered regularly for their first year or two. Its long thorns make it a poor choice next to paths, play areas or pools, and it can drop pods and leaves.
It works in desert-style and low-water landscapes, as a boundary or windbreak tree on larger plots, and in farms and community landscaping. We offer it at 3–4 m in a nursery pot.
- Sizes
- 3 cm
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Twice a week in summer for the first 1–2 years, then occasional deep watering
- AC
- Keep it 1 metre from vents
- Pets
- Not listed in the ASPCA database (checked under Gum Arabic Tree, Acacia, Acacia nilotica and Vachellia nilotica).
Why Green Beetle, Not a Nursery
What changes when you buy here instead of collecting from a nursery.
| Compare | Plant Nursery | Green Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Plant quality | Grown outdoors, stressed indoors | Acclimatized for Dubai interiors |
| Before dispatch | Not checked | Checked for damage |
| Repotting | Needed straight away | Fresh soil, not needed |
| Delivery | You collect | Delivered, packed properly |
| After-care | None | WhatsApp help from our team |
Every plant is checked at our shop in Warsan 3 before it is dispatched. Questions about Gum Arabic Tree? Message us on WhatsApp.
Care Guide for Dubai Homes
How to keep Gum Arabic Tree healthy through the Dubai year.
Light
Full sun. Keep it out of harsh direct afternoon sun in summer.
Watering
Twice a week in summer for the first 1–2 years, then occasional deep watering. Water when the top 2 to 3 cm of soil feels dry, empty the saucer afterwards, and check the soil before you water: AC slows how fast the plant uses water.
Care notes
Soil: sandy, free-draining native soil; no amendment needed. Feeding: generally none needed once established. Common mistake: planting near paths, play areas or pools, where the long thorns are a hazard. Where it works: desert-style gardens, boundaries, windbreaks, farms, larger plots.
AC and air flow
Keep it at least 1 metre from AC vents. Cold air blowing straight onto the leaves dries the edges.
Cleaning the leaves
Dust settles quickly in Dubai homes. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every few weeks so they keep taking in light.
Feeding and repotting
Feed once a month from March to October. Repot every 2 years into a pot one size up, or book a Plant Doctor visit and we do it for you.
Pets
Not listed in the ASPCA database (checked under Gum Arabic Tree, Acacia, Acacia nilotica and Vachellia nilotica). Check with your vet if you have pets.
Need Help Later On?
Book a Plant Doctor visit: our team checks the plant, changes the soil, feeds, prunes and cleans it, and shows you how to keep it healthy.
Book a Plant Doctor VisitComplete Your Space
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Gum Arabic Tree FAQs
Is the gum arabic tree native to the UAE region?
It is native to Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent and is well adapted to desert conditions.
How much water does it need?
Water young trees about twice a week in summer for 1–2 years. Established trees need very little.
Does it have thorns?
Yes, long white paired thorns. Keep it away from paths, pools and play areas.
Is it toxic to pets?
It is not listed in the ASPCA database. The thorns can injure pets, so check with your vet if you have pets.
Need 10 or more for an office, hotel or restaurant?
We install and maintain them too, with one written quote.