Sharjah 24: The second edition of the Al Dhaid Dates Festival, organised by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry during November 4 - 6, concluded, on Sunday, at the Al Dhaid Expo, and was a big hit in terms of attracting thousands of visitors, and providing exhibitors with a superb opportunity to market and sell local dates and associated products.

The event also promoted Al Dhaid town as an incubator of events that celebrate palm trees and preserve the UAE's culture and heritage.

Mohamed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressed that the Al Dhaid Dates Festival turned in just two years into a milestone, spurring the promotion of local dates, in addition to attracting more Emirati merchants, especially those from Al Dhaid, to the event, and introducing them to new customers and merchants from across the UAE and the neighbouring countries under one roof. 

Al Awadi pointed out that Sharjah Chamber has always  been keen to organise more such events in order to develop palm tree cultivation and date production and achieve best benefits from this industry, by providing farm owners with all means to cultivate, produce and market dates more effectively for a better food sustainability, as well as updating expertise on various aspects of palm trees production and protection. He praised all the partners who contributed to the success of the festival's second edition.

Mohammed Musabbeh Al Tunaiji, General Coordinator of the festival, highlighted the above-expectation results of Al Dhaid Dates Festival this year, especially in terms of the huge participation by visitors, shoppers and merchants from across the emirates and neighbouring countries, in addition to the large sales volume achieved, as the festival represented an opportunity for the exhibitors to make very good profits, and for  date farmers and traders to find more marketing channels. 

Al Tunaiji also spotlighted the festival's role of revitalising internal tourism and attracting visitors from outside of the UAE, pointing out that the second edition's hit is a stimulus for launching future editions that outdo previous ones and meet the aspirations. He noted that dates are a national wealth, and that Sharjah Chamber always seeks to launch initiatives aimed at preserving dates and maximising their economic, environmental and social returns.