The 5th Al Dhafra Dates Festival runs from 16 to 25 October in Madinat Zayed, in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi. It is organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, with Kuwait as guest of honour.
The festival has 22 competitions and 180 prizes worth 4.6 million dirhams. There are seven beauty contests for date varieties such as Khalas, Fardh, Dabbas and Shishi, two packaging contests and five honey categories, including Sidr and Samar. A dates auction is held every day at 5 pm, and this edition introduces a date palm auction.
The aim is to preserve palm heritage and local varieties, support Emirati farmers and producers and promote sustainable agriculture and food security, as well as tourism and the regional economy.
