Sharjah24: The second edition of Al Dhaid Date Festival was launched yesterday, Friday, by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event lasts from 4 to 6 November with a wide participation of producers, retailers, distributors and farmers.

Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressed that the Al Dhaid Date Festival is part of Sharjah Chamber’s tireless efforts to support various economic sectors in the emirate, including the dates trade and production sector, as dates are among the staple items for households in the UAE particularly and the Gulf in general.  He highlighted the importance of the festival in encouraging the production and processing of dates to increase efficiency, promote this important and vital sector, and allow local farmers to find other platforms in addition to the Al Dhaid Dates Festival that help them show the finest types of dates they produce, not to mention attracting those interested in date industry and its development locally and regionally. 

“The festival is part of the Chamber’s efforts to support local products and promote sectors that provide added value to the vibrant economy of the Emirate of Sharjah, and we are sure that the festival is an important platform to find new investment opportunities, and an additional endeavour to preserve the age-old heritage of the people of the UAE, support owners of palm-producing farms, and promote the palm farming sector's development and sustainability via more innovative programme and activities”, added Al Owais.

Mohammed Musabbeh Al Tunaiji, general coordinator of the festival, stressed that the second edition is witnessing a distinguished participation, as exhibitors offer a variety of local dates so that consumers can have them at competitive prices, in addition to introducing visitors to the wonderful selection for which Al Dhaid in particular and the UAE in general are famous. He added that the exhibition provides the chance for direct selling at the exhibitors’ stands, allowing more promising business opportunities for sellers and buyers with hundreds of date types exhibited by suppliers and producers.

The festival is to witness an auction on all types of dates, in addition to direct selling at the festival's market. It also sets up a platform for local sellers to market their local dates and related products, in addition to exchanging experiences on modern farming methods and how to take care of palm trees. Moreover, It provides visitors with a wide range of luxury, commercial and average dates.

The festival is a free-entry event from 10:00am to 9:00pm. It also enables productive families working in date production to take part and allocates spaces for dates packing factories. Interestingly, the festival includes a programme full of heritage activities, competitions, and other exciting activities for families to learn more about dates, their recipes and the associated food industries.