São Paulo – Over 50 varieties of dates can be found at the Al Dhaid Date Festival, which opened this Thursday (21) and will last four days at Expo Al Dhaid, in the emirate of Sharjah. This is the 6th edition of the event organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), bringing together hundreds of producers of the fruit that is considered a symbol of the Arab world and many official bodies from all over the United Arab Emirates.
With the theme “The Aroma of the Past… The Blossoming Present,” the festival was opened by the president of SCCI, Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, among other authorities. In addition to the fruits on display at the booths, the event features presentations and competitions offering AED 1 million (about USD 272,210 at the current rate) in prizes to 145 winners divided into six categories, the smallest prize being AED 1,000 (about USD 272.21) and the largest, AED 25,000 (approximately USD 6,805). Categories include the biggest bunch of dates, best lemons, figs, and best date basket.
Thousands visited the festival on the first day to get to know the best varieties of dates and buy handicrafts made from date palm leaves.
Al Owais pointed out the UAE is one of the top ten date-producing countries in the world and one of the biggest exporters of the fruit. The president of the SCCI also noted the UAE’s date industry represents around 30% of all import and export activity in the country’s international trade.
Among the chamber’s strategic plans are the promotion and expansion of date cultivation and production at the local level; maintaining the historical significance of the date palm, supporting farm owners, and encouraging sustainable agricultural development, as well as stimulating and revitalizing the local economy movement and raising farmers’ awareness about modern agriculture and environmental protection.
With information from the Emirates Government News Agency, WAM.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
