Al Dhaid Date Festival starts with palm farmers' participation

Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the festival featured extensive participation from date producers, retailers, and farmers and palm owners from across the UAE. It also dedicated platforms for government and private entities engaged in date cultivation and related industries.

The festival was inaugurated by Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, alongside several board members of the Sharjah Chamber. 

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the Sharjah Chamber, and Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector at SCCI. Also present were Mohammad Musabah Al Tunaiji, General Coordinator of Al Dhaid Date Festival, as well as several officials from various government entities in the city of Al Dhaid.

Following the official launch of the festival, the attendees toured the festival’s different pavilions and stands, where they met with exhibitors and explored the diverse types and varieties of dates on display in addition to traditional and heritage-inspired products showcased by participating productive families.

H.E Abdallah Sultan Al Owais said that the Al Dhaid Date Festival is an integral part of the Sharjah Chamber’s strategy to support and advance the agricultural sector. In line with a comprehensive vision that fosters collaboration between public and private sectors, the festival aims to contribute to achieve food self-sufficiency and drive the growth of date cultivation in Sharjah and the UAE. 

The festival plays a vital role in this goal by engaging local farmers and palm owners, offering them a platform to explore the resources and expertise needed to enhance their agricultural skills and productivity, thereby improving their competitiveness in both local and regional markets.

By engaging local farmers and palm owners, the festival provides a key platform for accessing the necessary resources and expertise to enhance their agricultural capabilities and productivity, ultimately strengthening their competitiveness in local and regional markets. 

For his part, Mohammad Musabah Al Tunaiji noted that the Al Dhaid Date Festival is witnessing a growing participation of local farmers who are eager to showcase their finest and top-quality date products and take part in competitions organised by the Sharjah Chamber as part of the festival’s agenda. This highlights the event's pivotal role in raising awareness about the value of palm tree and its cultivation in Emirati culture. 

Additionally, the festival provides a direct channel for palm farm owners to market their products, engage with consumers and traders, and explore the latest innovations in agricultural technology. It also offers valuable insights into modern marketing strategies for crops and date-related industries, thereby boosting productivity and improving operational efficiency.

Furthermore, the festival agenda features a series of economic and commercial activities, traditional folk performances, and diverse cultural programs designed to promote knowledge about palm trees and their different varieties and types.

These programs aim to encourage palm farm owners to promote their date cultivation and farming techniques, adopt the best methods for protecting palm trees from pests, enhance product quality, and expand the cultivation of commercially viable varieties, thereby driving agricultural development and promoting food security.

One of the festival's highlights is the dates auction, which kicked off its first round immediately after the festival's opening. Two additional auctions are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, aimed at encouraging farmers to showcase the quality of Emirati dates to all visitors and those interested in premium date varieties.

The festival also hosts the "Best Stuffed Dates Dish" competition, exclusively for female citizens from the central region of Sharjah. Featuring valuable prizes for dishes of stuffed dates with nuts, fruits, and other fillings, the inaugural round of the competition commenced on the opening day. 

The festival also features a dates market showcasing a wide variety of date products, open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM. Visitors can purchase premium varieties of dates sourced from farms located across the UAE’s Emirates.