Photo Credit: WAM
ABU DHABI: The fifth edition of the Al Dhafra Dates Festival will open on Friday, October 16, in Madinat Zayed, bringing together farmers, producers, artisans and heritage enthusiasts for 10 days of competitions, auctions and cultural activities.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, the festival will run until October 25, with Kuwait participating as Guest of Honour.
Kuwait’s participation highlights the longstanding ties between the UAE and Kuwait and their shared Gulf cultural heritage. Visitors will have an opportunity to explore aspects of Kuwaiti traditions while participants exchange knowledge and expertise.
This year’s festival will feature 22 competitions offering 180 prizes with a combined value of AED4.6 million. The programme will also include daily dates auctions, heritage workshops, cultural activities, family entertainment and, for the first time, a Date Palm Auction.
Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Acting Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, said the event supports efforts to preserve traditions associated with date palms and strengthen their importance within the UAE’s national identity.
The festival also provides a platform for Emirati farmers to promote their products, exchange agricultural expertise and highlight the quality and diversity of dates produced in the country.
In addition to date farmers, the event will support honey producers, craftspeople, productive families and Emirati entrepreneurs by providing opportunities to showcase and market their products.
Organisers said the festival also aims to protect local date palm varieties, encourage the propagation of rare cultivars and promote sustainable farming practices that can contribute to food security and agricultural development.
Date and Honey Competitions
Rashid Khadem Al Rumaithi, Director of the Al Dhafra Dates Festival, said seven date beauty competitions will be held during the event, covering Al Dhafra Elite, Fardh, Zamli, Dabbas, Boumaan, Khalas and Shishi varieties.
Two additional competitions will focus on date packaging, with separate categories for natural dates and dates prepared with additional ingredients.
Honey producers will compete across five categories: Sidr Honey, Samar Honey, Liquid Honey, Honeycomb and Crystallised Honey.
Daily Dates Auction at 5pm
One of the festival’s major attractions will be the daily dates auction, scheduled to begin at 5pm.
The auction will allow farmers to present high-quality locally produced dates directly to visitors and buyers, helping increase the visibility and commercial value of Emirati agricultural products.
A new Date Palm Auction will also make its debut this year. The initiative is designed to help preserve local varieties, encourage the propagation of rare and commercially valuable cultivars and make selected palms available to farmers and enthusiasts.
Cooking, Photography and Live Painting
The programme will extend beyond agricultural competitions with the International Competition for Cooking with Dates, Date Products and Olive Oil.
The contest will bring together chefs from hotels as well as representatives of productive families, highlighting different ways dates and related products can be incorporated into food.
A Photography Award will feature three themes: Palm Trees and Dates, Marine Life, and Wildlife in Al Dhafra.
The Live Painting Competition will focus on two themes: Palm Trees and Dates, and Wildlife and Marine Life in Al Dhafra.
Heritage workshops, public competitions and live performances will also take place throughout the festival, introducing visitors to traditional knowledge, crafts, skills and customs associated with the UAE and the Al Dhafra Region.
The activities are designed for visitors of different age groups and aim to provide interactive opportunities to experience and understand elements of Emirati cultural heritage.
Farmers, producers and artists interested in taking part in the competitions can review participation requirements and register through the Falak Al Namous application.
Organisers have also invited members of the public to attend the festival, participate in its cultural and family activities and visit the daily dates auctions.
