10th Al Dhaid Date Festival records more than Dhs2.5 million in sales

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The 10th edition of the Al Dhaid Date Festival, organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) at Expo Al Dhaid, concluded on Sunday on a high note after a vibrant four-day showcase of the UAE's finest harvests.

Marking a decade since the festival’s inception, this milestone edition attracted more than 35,000 visitors, representing a 15 per cent year-on-year increase, and generated over Dhs2.5 million in sales, reinforcing the festival’s position as one of the country's most significant agricultural and heritage events.

The festival also honoured 130 winners across its diverse competition categories this year, celebrating the UAE’s deep-rooted connection with the date palm. During the closing ceremony, H.E. Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, recognised competition winners together with strategic partners, praising the efforts of the organising committees and participating entities for their contribution to the success of the 10th edition.

This year’s edition featured extensive participation from leading palm farmers and date producers across the UAE, alongside home-based businesses, government entities, agricultural companies, and premium date palm nurseries showcasing advanced technologies and innovative solutions designed to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. The festival also saw a notable expansion in both the exhibition space and the number of participating exhibitors.

The festival's 10th edition welcomed a high-profile delegation of ministers, senior government officials, municipal council chairpersons, and representatives of federal and local entities, who explored the festival’s initiatives and projects supporting the agricultural sector. It also gained significant media attention and drew strong interest from content creators and social media influencers.

The 10th edition showcased a new National Food Factory project developed by SCCI and aimed at strengthening food security and adding value to agricultural produce. Located in the Hamda area of Mleiha, the facility, once operational, will have an annual production capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes. The factory was presented at the festival and attracted strong interest from visitors, farmers, and agricultural industry stakeholders.

Abdallah Sultan Al Owais said the Al Dhaid Date Festival has evolved into a strategic platform for enhancing competitiveness across the agricultural sector by encouraging farmers to continuously improve product quality and adopt innovation-driven practices. He noted that the festival has played a key role in transforming date palm cultivation from a traditional agricultural activity into a modern sector built on quality, innovation, and value creation.

“The Sharjah Chamber’s future vision extends beyond primary agricultural production to strengthening agri-industrial integration by linking farms with food manufacturing, marketing channels, and agricultural value chains, further reinforcing Sharjah’s position within the sustainable agricultural production ecosystem,” Al Owais added.

Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI, stated that the festival has grown over the past decade into a platform for preserving the UAE’s agricultural heritage, reflecting the success of the Sharjah Chamber’s knowledge-driven model.

He mentioned that preserving the date palm as a symbol of national identity requires continuous investment in knowledge and innovation, ensuring that heritage preservation goes hand in hand with sustainable agricultural development and sector growth.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Musabeh Al Tunaiji, General Coordinator of Al Dhaid Date Festival, said this year’s edition featured extensive participation of specialised agricultural companies and productive families, further strengthening the festival’s position as a distinguished platform that brings together a significant number of palm owners, farmers, and date enthusiasts from across the country.

He explained that this growing engagement reflects the integration of institutional initiatives and community-led efforts in supporting the local economy and highlights the importance of sustainable date palm cultivation and the wider community’s role in preserving UAE’s cultural heritage and national identity.

The festival’s 10th edition marked a milestone in its history, featuring a packed programme of competitions held over four days. The opening day saw the launch of the “Khneizi Dates Beauty” and the “Best Local Lemon” contests. The second day continued with the “Al-Khalas Dates Beauty” and the “Red Fig” contests, followed by the “Shishi Dates” contest and the Home-Grown Date Harvest competition for women on the third day.

The festival concluded on the fourth day with the two elite contests: the General Dhaid Elite Dates and the Special Dhaid Elite Dates (open to farmers from the Northern Emirates), alongside the “Ratb Al Kharaif Beauty” contest for children.

The 10th Al Dhaid Date Festival further reinforced its role as an agricultural knowledge-sharing platform by delivering a series of advisory workshops and expert-led seminars focused on modern agricultural methods and palm tree care.

These sessions covered date palm varieties, best practices for palm cultivation, modern harvesting techniques, and sustainable farming methods. They also highlighted the advanced agricultural technologies to increase the productivity and quality of locally grown produce, thereby supporting the long-term competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

The festival delivered an integrated visitor experience combining retail, heritage, knowledge exchange, and family entertainment. Visitors had the opportunity to explore some of the finest varieties of locally grown fresh dates and fruits, discover the latest agricultural innovations, and enjoy a range of heritage and cultural activities that highlighted the enduring significance of the date palm in the UAE’s national identity.