Damas (Conocarpus) is the one tree we are called out to remove more than any other in Dubai — and for good reason. Its roots hunt for water, break into pipes and drains, crack boundary walls and quietly push up your DEWA bill. Damas seeds and seedlings are now banned in the UAE, and municipalities have uprooted them by the thousand. We remove them properly: tree, stump and the entire root system.

Why a damas tree has to come out

Damas was planted everywhere because it grows fast and makes a thick screen in two seasons. The problem is underground. The root system is aggressive and it actively grows towards moisture — which in a villa means straight for your kitchen, bathrooms, drains and pool.

  • Broken water and sewage pipes — roots get inside pipe joints, grow within them and block the flow
  • Cracked and toppled boundary walls — roots heave the ground and push walls over
  • Damaged swimming pools, paving and foundations
  • Higher DEWA bills — often the first clue, caused by a root-induced leak you cannot see
  • Pollen and allergy complaints, and it suppresses the plants growing around it

The full background, with sources, is in our guide to why the damas tree is banned in the UAE.

Signs you need a damas removed now

  • Your water bill has jumped with no change in usage
  • Damp patches, or water pooling near a wall or the tree
  • Slow or repeatedly blocked drains
  • A boundary wall that is cracking, bulging or leaning
  • Lifted or cracked paving, interlock or pool decking
  • Roots visible at the surface, heading towards the villa

Cutting the trunk is not removal

This is the single most common and most expensive mistake. If you only fell the tree and leave the roots in the ground, the root system stays alive, regrows and carries on damaging your pipes. Within a season you are back where you started, and the new growth is harder to deal with.

A damas is only truly gone when the root system is out.

How we remove a damas tree

  • Free site survey — we assess the size, the access, and crucially what is underground near it: water lines, sewage, pool shell, wall footings
  • Safe, controlled felling — sectional dismantling where the tree is close to a wall, villa, pool or power lines
  • Full root and stump extraction — not just stump grinding to ground level, but taking out the root system so it cannot regrow
  • Damage check — we inspect the pipework, wall footings and paving the roots had reached, so you know what needs repair
  • Backfill and make good — soil reinstated and the area levelled
  • Full green-waste removal — we take everything away and leave the site clean
  • Replanting (optional) — we replant with a species that will not repeat the problem

What to plant instead

You can have privacy and shade without the destruction. Depending on the spot, we would suggest:

  • Ficus hedging for a formal green screen, set a safe distance from services
  • Bougainvillea along a wall or fence — fast, colourful and very low water
  • Native shade trees such as ghaf or sidr where there is space — see our guide to native and desert plants for Dubai gardens
  • Clusia or Carissa for dense, well-behaved hedging

Our soft landscaping team handles the replanting, and garden maintenance keeps it in shape afterwards.

Damas removal FAQs

How much does damas tree removal cost in Dubai?
It depends on the size of the tree, how close it is to walls, pools and pipework, and how much root extraction is needed — a single small tree is a very different job to a mature hedge line. We do not quote blind: we come out, look at it and give you a fixed price. The site visit is free.

Will it grow back?
Not if the roots are taken out. If someone only cuts the trunk, yes — it will regrow and keep damaging your pipes.

How long does it take?
Most single-tree removals are completed within a day. A long damas hedge or a tree tight against a pool or wall takes longer because it has to be dismantled carefully.

Do I need permission to remove one?
Damas removal is generally encouraged given the nationwide restrictions. However, if you live in a master community, check with your community management or developer first, as some have their own landscaping approvals. And never remove a ghaf — it is a protected UAE species. See banned and restricted trees in the UAE.

Can you repair the damage the roots caused?
We identify it and reinstate the landscaping, paving and soil. For pipework and structural wall repairs we will tell you exactly what needs doing so you can get it put right.

Which areas do you cover?
All of Dubai — see areas we serve.

Looking for damas tree removal near you? We cover every area of Dubai.

Damas removal by community

Damas was planted most heavily in Dubai’s established villa communities. We remove it across all of them:

Get your damas tree removed properly

Book a free site visit and we will tell you honestly what it will take. Call +971 50 495 4437, message us on WhatsApp, or request a quote. Part of our full tree services in Dubai.