Al dhaid: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has finalized preparations for the 9th edition of the Al Dhaid Date Festival, which is scheduled to take place from July 23 to July 27 at Expo Al Dhaid.
According to Emirates News Agency, this year's event promises extensive participation from palm farmers and date producers across the UAE, along with government entities, private agricultural organizations, and home-based businesses. The Al Dhaid Date Festival is recognized as a key economic, heritage-themed, and agricultural event organized annually by the Sharjah Chamber. It aims to promote palm cultivation by encouraging the adoption of advanced agricultural practices, thereby enhancing palm tree protection and improving date quality. This initiative contributes to the UAE's food security and sustainable agricultural development.
The festival will feature multiple competitions with significant prizes, categorized into major segments such as the 'Ratb (Date) Beauty' Contest, 'Best Lemons', 'Fig Contest', 'Ratb Al Kharaif Beauty' Contest for children, and a homegrown date competition exclusively for women. In addition, the festival will host cultural and heritage-themed activities, along with workshops on modern agricultural methods and palm tree care, to inspire agricultural innovation and the adoption of advanced techniques to boost productivity and quality.
Mohammad Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI, highlighted that the festival aligns with Sharjah's strategic vision of promoting sustainable food security by integrating traditional practices with modern technologies. "Al Dhaid Date Festival serves as a vital platform to support agricultural growth in Sharjah, enabling hundreds of farmers to adopt best practices, innovate, and engage in knowledge-sharing with investors and young entrepreneurs. This contributes to economic empowerment, promotes palm cultivation as a strategic crop, and strengthens Al Dhaid's position as a leading agricultural and tourism destination," he stated.
The event will kick off on July 23 with the 'Best Lemons', 'Fig Contest', and 'Ratb Al Kharaif Beauty' competitions, followed by the 'Khneizi Dates Beauty Contest' on July 24 and 'Al-Khalas Dates Beauty Contest' on July 25. The 'Shishi Dates' competition is set for July 26, and the festival will conclude on July 27 with the announcement of winners for both the 'General Dhaid Elite Dates' and the 'Northern Emirates Dhaid Elite Dates' competitions.
The Organising Committee has outlined specific terms for participation in this year's dates competitions. Participants must use locally produced dates from the 2025 season grown on their own farms. The dates should be at an optimal ripeness stage, free from insect infestations, dead insects, or defects, and weigh 4kg. They must be presented in a traditional basket, with additional conditions for elite categories and the lemon and fig contests.
Participation in the home-grown dates competition is reserved for women from the Northern Emirates, while the children's competition is limited to participants from Sharjah's Central Region, fostering community engagement and inclusivity.