For Zayed National Museum, ACCIONA Cultura commissioned and oversaw the creation of a monumental bronze sculpture of the Ghaf tree, collaborating with Factum Arte to bring to life the national tree of the United Arab Emirates The 3.9-metre-tall sculpture, which was completed after more than a year of development and fabrication, represents a synthesis of botanical research, advanced 3D modelling, traditional foundry methods and highly specialised metalwork.

The Ghaf tree (Prosopis cineraria) holds a central place in the cultural and ecological identity of the UAE. Revered for its endurance in extreme desert conditions, it has long symbolised stability, refuge and the deep-rooted relationship between people and the land. Its broad canopy, drought tolerance and ability to enrich soil make it a keystone species in the region’s landscape.

The sculpture forms part of a wider installation commissioned by ACCIONA Cultura, including the two horse sculptures of Rabdan and Saglawiya and the Stainless Steel Ghaf Tree. Together, the three works articulate the connection between what is visible above ground and the unseen structures that sustain life.

Measuring almost 5 metres across and weighing close to one tonne, the Bronze Ghaf Tree required extensive structural engineering and a modular design—balancing technical constraints with the natural irregularity characteristic of the species. Field observation and detailed recording of real Ghaf trees formed the basis of the project’s aesthetic and botanical accuracy.

The tree’s digital model was created from recordings and photographic documentation of Ghaf trees gathered during a field trip to Abu Dhabi by Factum Arte’s Imran Khan and Jordi Garcia Pons. This material informed decisions about trunk proportions, branching geometry and overall morphology. It also led to a 3D file that could be printed in great detail to provide a master from which the bronze could be made.

At Esfinge Foundry in Madrid, the 3D-printed digital model was divided into segments for casting. Large components of the trunk and major roots were cast in wax in silicone moulds and used to produce bronze casts with the lost-wax process. A stainless-steel armature, designed and fabricated in Factum Arte’s metal workshop, was integrated inside the trunk to reinforce the cantilevered branches.

Branches were collected, selected by diameter, length and curvature, and moulded for bronze casting. The principal branches were cast around stainless-steel inserts added after the pour to provide structural support. During assembly tests, real branches were temporarily mounted onto a full-scale mock-up of the trunk to determine optimal placement and orientation before casting.

The brass leaves were designed after close study of Ghaf foliage. Each was cut from brass sheet in varied shapes and sizes to reflect natural growth patterns. These were welded onto small cast twigs, individually patinated and then attached to the bronze branches in clusters.

Final finishing included sandblasting, patination and detailed surface adjustments to unify the sculpture’s appearance. The Bronze Ghaf Tree's installation at Zayed National Museum started in January 2025, with final detail welding and structural checks completed on site in October 2025, once the building work was completed.