Fifth Al Dhafra Dates Festival Opens Under Distinguished Patronage
The celebrated Al Dhafra Dates Festival has commenced its fifth edition, welcoming Kuwait as guest of honour and presenting an exceptional array of competitions, auctions and cultural celebrations through 25th October.
The fifth edition of the Al Dhafra Dates Festival has opened today under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, this venerable celebration of one of the Emirates’ most cherished agricultural treasures will continue until 25th October, welcoming Kuwait as the honoured guest nation for this year’s proceedings.
The festival’s opening day witnessed an exceptional gathering of agricultural excellence, with 1,800 kilogrammes of dates submitted by 24 contestants participating in the prestigious Al Dhafra Elite competition. A further 576 kilogrammes arrived from 15 competitors in the Dates Packaging Without Additives category, whilst 40 contestants entered the Sidr Honey competition. The verdicts for the first two competitions will be revealed tomorrow.
This year’s edition presents a comprehensive programme of 22 competitions offering 180 prizes valued at AED4.6 million in aggregate, accompanied by a daily dates auction and an enriching schedule of heritage, cultural and family orientated activities. A notable innovation for this year is the introduction of the Date Palm Auction, a significant initiative designed to preserve indigenous palm varieties, advance the cultivation of rare and economically valuable cultivars, and ensure their availability to farmers and enthusiasts throughout the region.
The festival’s cultural offerings extend to the International Competition for Cooking with Dates, Date Products and Olive Oil, bringing together distinguished chefs from leading hotels and members of productive families to showcase the versatility and culinary potential of the date. Kuwait’s participation as guest of honour reflects the profound fraternal bonds between the two nations and their shared appreciation of cultural heritage, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the multifaceted richness of Kuwaiti traditions whilst fostering meaningful exchange and collaboration amongst all participants.
Source: WAM