1. Licensed and insured
Confirm the company holds a valid Dubai DED trade license relevant to the service scope and carries third-party liability insurance. This protects you if anything goes wrong on site.
2. Real portfolio, not stock photos
Ask for photos of projects they've actually completed in Dubai, ideally with addresses or community names. A real landscaping company in Dubai will have dozens.
3. Plant selection for UAE conditions
If the planting plan is full of species that struggle in Dubai (English boxwood, certain hostas, anything that needs cold dormancy), the designer doesn't really know the climate. Look for ghaf, ficus, bougainvillea, oleander, frangipani, pennisetum, and heat-tolerant groundcovers.
4. Soil and drainage scope
Native Dubai sand needs topsoil replacement and drainage. If the quote doesn't mention soil correction, the plants will struggle within months. Walk away.
5. Aftercare and maintenance
Installation is one-time; survival is ongoing. Ask whether the same company offers maintenance and what the monthly cost will be. Plants installed without aftercare often fail within a year — and that's a wasted investment.
