The 7th edition of Al Dhaid Date Festival continues to captivate participants and visitors alike. WAM

The 7th edition of Al Dhaid Date Festival continues to captivate participants and visitors alike, in a celebration of heritage, competition, and the exquisite delectability of dates. Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the event is hosted at Expo Al Dhaid, offering an enticing platform to showcase the richness of palm cultivation until 30th July.

Drawing significant attention, the festival has not only become a hotspot for the public but has also attracted various official delegations and representatives from government institutions, who have shown great interest in the event’s vast array of activities.

During the event, Jamal Mohammed Bin Huwaiden, member of the Board of Directors of SCCI, along with Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the Sharjah Chamber, Mohammed Musabah Al Tunaiji, General Coordinator of the festival, and members of the Organising Committee, received a delegation from the Qassim Dates Festival Committee in Saudi Arabia.

The delegation, led by Bandar Bin Saleh Bin Suleiman Al Hadiya, Office Manager, Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in Buraidah and Vice Executive Director of the Dates Festival, was briefed on the best local dates and date varieties showcased by the participants, as well as details about the competitions.

Al Awadi said, “Al Dhaid Date Festival has indeed succeeded in securing a commanding position among the list of festivals that celebrate the heritage of palm cultivation at both state and regional levels. This success is evident in the keen interest of official delegations to visit the event and understand its unique approach to promoting and developing the palm cultivation and date production sectors. The festival supports palm owners and farmers, motivating them to expand and enhance their production.

“Preliminary results from the festival highlight the success indicators and confirm the festival’s ability to achieve its strategic goals.”

Al Dhaid Date Festival continues into its seventh season with more exciting competitions. The event on Sunday will feature the Elite General and Al Dhaid Fort Elite competitions, which are expected to showcase intense competition among hundreds of palm owners and farmers.

Al Dhaid Dates Festival’s second day (Friday) witnessed fierce competition among hundreds of palm tree owners and farmers in the two competitions of Al Ratab Beauty and Best Lemons. The participants displayed the best dates and fruits from local production in the country.

The first day witnessed a number of winners participating in Al Ratab Khanzi Beauty and Largest Dates Branch (40 kilogrammes and above for Khasab Dates, 50 kilogrammes for other varieties). The competition attracted many participants, who competed to deliver their farms’ best products and demonstrated a deep interest in the competition’s conditions.

The Festival’s General Coordinator, Mohammad Musabah Al Tunaiji, acknowledged that the event had witnessed a variety of participations in competitions throughout its history, which reflected the farmers’ enthusiasm and dedication to expanding their farms and products and enabled and encouraged them to invest in this area to increase and improve their production.

Al Tunaiji expressed his expectations that the festival would witness more participation and competition among palm owners and farmers, given the importance of the event in providing them with the opportunity to display and market their products.

In addition, he said the festival will help exchange experiences and learn about the best practices adopted to enhance the quality of dates and date production.

Rashid Mohair Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Sorting and Evaluation Committee, said that the intense competition confirms the event’s innovative position as a prestigious annual platform that palm owners, farmers, industrialists, and traders are eager to participate in; thanks to the significant contribution it makes to raising the quality of the local product.

Al Ketbi called on farmers and palm owners to participate in the competitions taking place at the event, as Al Shishi Dates Red Fig and the Most Beautiful Basket competitions are scheduled for the third day. In contrast, the last day witnesses the General Elite and Al Dhaid Fort Elite Competitions.

WAM