Visitors admire the excellent quality of the dates displayed at the show. John Varughese, Gulf Today

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

The fourth Al Dhaid Dates Festival concluded late on Saturday after four days of fun-filled activities and competitions. The annual dates extravaganza attracted over 40,000 visitors and hundreds of palm farm owners from across the country.

An impressive award ceremony marked the end of the annual show where lucrative cash and in-kind prizes, worth Dhs1 million, were presented to 362 winners in six competitions.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Chairman Abdullah Sultan Al Owais honoured the winners in the six competitions of the festival – the ‘Best Dates’, ‘Naghal Dates’, ‘Biggest Clump’, ‘Local Lemon’, ‘Best Dates Basket’ and ‘Senior Nationals Dates Competition’.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Owais said that the high-quality products displayed over the dates beauty competitions reflect the advanced awareness of palm tree farmers and owners. “The SCCI’s activities boost business in the emirate of Sharjah, preserve the UAE heritage, protect the local environment, and build sustainable society and economy,” he said.

SCCI Director General Mohamed Ahmed Amin paid tributes to the partners and stressed that the palm tree is deeply rooted in the UAE culture and heritage. He said that the annual festival’s financial and cultural values are countless.

Director of the SCCI Al Dhaid branch and General Coordinator of the festival Mohammed Misbah Al Tunaiji said that the carnival has become a critical event for more palm farm owners nationwide.

“This was evident in the big number of participants, mainly in the dates beauty competitions, and visitors amounting to 40,000 in this fourth edition as compared to 30,000 last year,” he said.

The SCCI won accolades from participants as well as visitors for enhancing cooperation with the strategic partners to develop the festival, better preserve and promote it, and bolster its economic and social proceeds. They said that the festival has become a leading hub for investors, entrepreneurs, farmers and all concerned with such a major event being held in the Central Region of the emirate of Sharjah.

The annual festival is aimed at encouraging farmers and all concerned to better preserve palm trees and dates which are very part and parcel of the culture and heritage of the country.