Al Wathba Date Festival celebrates Emirati date culture

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

The second Al Wathba Date Festival has ended with great success. This event was held with support from His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is the Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE. It was arranged by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority.

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The festival started on January 10, 2025. It had 12 fun competitions for the best way to pack dates. Some were plain, and some had extra flavors. There were six kinds of dates in the contest: Khalas, Fard, Dabbas, Bumaan, Shishi, and Zamli. A total of 120 prizes were given out, and the prize money was over AED 2 million. Around 310 people who grow or make dates took part. They showed more than 3,100 kg of top-quality dates, packed in smart and earth-friendly boxes.

The festival also had a big date market. There were 40 shops showing over 200 different date types and date products. During the 79 days of the festival, 172 date makers and sellers took turns to show their goods. Every 10 days, the shops changed, so visitors always saw new things. People could buy dates, sweets, juices, and even crafts made from the date palm tree.

The main goal of the festival is to teach people how important the date palm is in the UAE. It follows the dream of the late Sheikh Zayed, who always wanted to protect date trees and keep the old ways of growing dates alive. This festival helps farmers grow more dates, trade them, and also make useful products from them. It also helps the country be strong in food supply.

The festival is not just for selling—it also helps people learn from each other. Farmers, workers, and experts from many places come to share ideas. They talk about new farming methods, how to take care of date trees, and also share stories about Emirati culture.

This special event helps protect the UAE’s history while also building a better and greener future. The date palm tree, which is a proud part of Emirati life, continues to be loved and cared for.