What vegetables would grow well in the hot middle east desert climate / soil?

Question

We have a large area around our home in Abu Dhabi. We have a gardener who has planted lots of impatiens, some green ground cover plants (looks like grass but not), laid down quite a bit of grass sod and some other purple leaf plants (ornamental) at the base of the sapodilla (sapota) trees / date palms. He is on vacation now. I want to grow vegetables in the large patch behind the house - What is suitable? Really hot humid weather

Answer 1

Maybe currants or dates. BUT IT'S FRICK*N AWESOME THAT YOU LIVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!!!! COOL!!!!!!!!! I ENVY YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

You might try to talk with the local farmers in the area and see what native crops are growing .... , soil tests and water source are a must

Also it is not just day time heat but the night time temp's that also must be taken in to account ... it is best to get local help and input as to what will grow , far easier than trying to reinvent the wheel ..JMHO

Answer 3

You'd do better growing vegetables in less warm parts of the year.  Okra is from the Mediterranean and tolerates heat well, just not 120.  It's grown in Egypt.  Also eggplant, tomatoes, peppers.  Since you don't have a frost to worry about, you can grow vegetables almost year round......you have to worry about heat, not cold.  

The trick will be creating a suitable soil.  Lots of organic matter and soil nutriets are critical.