Sharjah Chamber concludes the 10th edition of the Al Dhaid Date Festival with sales exceeding AED 2 million and attendance exceeding 35,000 visitors, representing a 15% growth.

The 10th edition of the Al Dhaid Date Festival, organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Expo Centre Al Dhaid, has concluded. This exceptional edition celebrated a decade since the launch of one of the UAE's most prominent agricultural and heritage festivals. The event attracted over 35,000 visitors, a remarkable 15% increase compared to the previous edition, and generated sales exceeding AED 2 million. It also saw 110 winners crowned across its various competitions.

During the closing ceremony, His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, honored the festival's competition winners, supporting organizations, and strategic partners. He commended the efforts of the organizing committees’ and all participating entities that contributed to the event's success. The festival witnessed wide participation from leading date palm farmers and producers from across the UAE, as well as productive families, several government agencies, companies specializing in the agricultural sector, and high-quality date palm nurseries showcasing the latest solutions and technologies for farmers.

The festival enjoyed a notable presence from several ministers, senior officials, heads of municipal councils, and representatives of governmental and federal entities. These dignitaries were briefed on the festival's initiatives and projects supporting the agricultural sector. The event attracted widespread media attention, as well as content creators and influencers who flocked to the festival throughout its four days to cover its activities. This contributed to enhancing its media presence and highlighting its position as one of the most prominent national platforms supporting the agricultural sector and Emirati heritage.

National Food Factory

The festival featured a presentation of the "National Food Factory" project, implemented by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Hamda area of ​​Mleiha. With an annual production capacity of 5,000 metric tons, the project's stand attracted significant interest from visitors, farmers, and those interested in the agricultural sector. They learned about the services the factory will provide to farmers, agricultural companies, and food manufacturers, ranging from date processing, sorting, grading, and packaging, to the production of date paste and date syrup, as well as vegetable processing and drying, contract manufacturing and packaging services, dry and refrigerated storage, and product preparation for export.

A Strategic Agricultural and Economic Event

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais affirmed that the Al Dhaid Date Festival represents a strategic agricultural and economic event, aligning with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry's efforts to develop an integrated system to support the agricultural sector. This aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in building a diversified and sustainable economy. He noted that the festival has proven its role as an effective platform for enhancing competitiveness among farmers and motivating them to improve the quality of their produce. It has also contributed to transforming date palm cultivation from a traditional activity into a sector based on quality and innovation standards. He added that the Chamber looks to the next phase with even greater ambition, working to support agricultural processing and connecting farms with industry, marketing, and value chains, thereby strengthening the Emirate of Sharjah's position within the sustainable agricultural production system.

Documenting Heritage

His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadhi, Director General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, affirmed that the festival's tenth anniversary is a testament to the success of the knowledge-based model adopted by the Chamber. The event has become a platform for documenting agricultural heritage and transmitting it to future generations. Preserving the date palm as a symbol of national identity requires continuous investment in knowledge and innovation. His Excellency Al Awadhi added that the Chamber has worked to develop the festival to meet the needs of the agricultural sector and enhance the efficiency of services provided to farmers. This includes connecting farmers with specialized companies and experts, which contributes to increased productivity, improved crop quality, and a boost to economic activity in the central and eastern regions of the Emirate of Sharjah.

The festival continued its role as a platform for transferring agricultural knowledge through a series of daily workshops and awareness seminars presented by experts and specialists. These covered palm varieties, their care, modern harvesting methods, and sustainable agricultural practices, in addition to showcasing the latest technologies that contribute to increasing productivity and improving crop quality. This provided farmers with the opportunity to learn about what supports the development of their farms, to discover new varieties, and to expand marketing opportunities.