Volunteering with Goumbook
About Goumbook
Goumbook is a UAE social enterprise that has been working to accelerate sustainability and climate action in the Middle East and North Africa since 2009. It sits somewhere between a charity, a consultancy and a campaign group: it runs public campaigns, designs programmes for companies and schools, and offers advisory work on biodiversity, circularity, water, food systems, climate action and social equity.
Its campaigns will be familiar to many UAE residents. They include Give A Ghaf, which restores desert ecosystems by planting the native Ghaf tree; Drop It, on single-use plastic; Mangroves Matter and Mangroves United; Sea Through; Eat It or Save It, on food waste; and Save the Butts, on cigarette litter. Goumbook also runs a MENA Oceans initiative, a regenerative agriculture programme and Youth Action projects.
What volunteers do
For most people, Goumbook’s most hands-on opportunity is Ghaf tree planting. The Ghaf is the UAE’s national tree and is well adapted to the desert, and Give A Ghaf has been running for well over a decade. Volunteers plant Ghaf trees and seeds, either at community planting days or through organised group activities.
Goumbook says planting days work well as company team-building, sustainability activations and employee engagement events. Schools can request Ghaf trees for hands-on planting with students, and UAE landowners can apply for free Ghaf trees for farmland or open land.
Who can volunteer
Goumbook does not publish formal volunteer requirements. Its planting activities are aimed at companies, schools and community groups, and individuals can join annual community planting days when they are announced. If you are coming as an individual, it is worth asking whether there is a community day you can join or a group you can attach yourself to.
How to get involved
- Read about the programme. Start at the Give A Ghaf page.
- Check the season. Outdoor planting runs from mid to late October through to May.
- Email the team. Write to ask@goumbook.com to plan a planting activity or ask about community days.
- For companies and schools: explain your group size, preferred dates and goals. Goumbook designs tailored programmes, from nursery seed planting to tree planting across the UAE.
- Use the contact form. If you prefer, reach the team via goumbook.com/contact-us.
Upcoming campaigns
Goumbook announced in October 2026 that the Ghaf planting season is back, with outdoor planting running from mid to late October through to May. It says the 2026–2027 season will include new corporate planting locations, though these had not been named when we checked. Contact the team to book a date.
Other ways to help
- Gift a Ghaf: buy Ghaf tree seeds as a gift for a birthday, anniversary or other occasion.
- Join a campaign: change your own habits through campaigns like Drop It or Eat It or Save It, and share them with friends.
- Bring it to work: Goumbook runs CSR and capacity-building programmes for companies.
- Listen and learn: its podcast and events cover sustainability topics in the region.
Good to know
Planting is outdoor work, and even in winter the UAE sun is strong. As general advice, wear sturdy shoes and a hat, bring water, and expect to get your hands dirty. Morning sessions are usually the most comfortable.
Prices for corporate and school programmes are not published, as each one is tailored. Ask for a quote when you get in touch.
If you own land in the UAE, ask about the free Ghaf tree offer. It is one of the simplest ways to make a lasting difference.
If you are an individual hoping to plant, the simplest approach is often to suggest a planting day to your employer, school or community group. Goumbook’s activities are designed around groups, so bringing a few colleagues or neighbours together makes it much easier to arrange.
Give yourself time. Corporate and school sessions are planned in advance, so get in touch a few weeks before your preferred date, especially in the cooler months when demand is higher.
Contact and links
- Website: goumbook.com
- Email: ask@goumbook.com
- Give A Ghaf: goumbook.com/give-a-ghaf-tree-planting
- Planting season update: Ghaf planting season is back
- All campaigns: goumbook.com/campaigns