Sharjah 24: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCI) has announced raising the value of the prizes allocated for the competitions of the fifth edition of Al Dhaid Date Festival, which will be held from 22 to 25 July at Expo Al Dhaid, to AED1,500,000, in addition to the introduction of two new competitions, including a local mango and the yellow and red figs. This is in line with the festival’s objectives to support farmers of Al Dhaid and the Eastern and Central Region of the Emirate of Sharjah.

This came during a press conference held on Tuesday at the Expo Al Dhaid during which Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director General of the SCCI; Mohammed Musabah Al Tunaiji, General Coordinator of the Festival; Rashid Muhair Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Assortment and Evaluation Committee; and Khalifa Rashid Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Events and Theatre Committee, spoke. The press conference was also attended by Jamal Said Bu zanjal, head of the media committee, and representatives of the local media.

The conference witnessed the announcement of the details of the festival’s competitions that will be applied for on July 22 from 8 AM until 2 PM, where hundreds of participants will display various types of dates from season 2021 local production of the UAE. The event will also witness, in its new version, an array of economic, commercial, cultural and heritage activities, as well as competitions with cash prizes ranging between AED2000 and AED30,000.

Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi thanked His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for His Highness’s unlimited support for and generous sponsorship of Al Dhaid Dates Festival. He also expressed the SCCI’s appreciation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for His Highness's generous support of the festival and his follow-up and encouragement of citizens to cultivate expand the green area and ensure food security.

For his part, Mohammed Musabeh Al Tunaiji said that Al Dhaid Date Festival receives a remarkable attention from palm growers in the Eastern and Central regions in particular and the various emirates of the country in general, and has succeeded, in its previous editions, in attracting large numbers of participants and exhibitors, not to mention its positive impact on the quality and diversity of the local product.

Rashid Muhair Al Ketbi announced that the agenda of the fifth edition of the festival includes many eye-catching competitions and valuable prizes, all of which are aimed at encouraging palm farmers in the Eastern and Central regions to pay attention to this good tree, which is closely associated with Emirati culture.

Khalifa Rashid Al Tunaiji announced the precautionary measures set by the organising committee for the participation in the festival, including the need to have taken two doses of Covid-19 vaccination, or conducting a test 48 hours before the visit, in addition to commitment to wearing mask and observing the conditions for physical distancing set by the organising committee.