The Organising Committee of the Al Dhaid Date Festival has completed all preparations for the eighth annual event, scheduled to run from July 25 to 28 at Expo Al Dhaid in Sharjah. Held under the aegis of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the Al Dhaid Date Festival 2024 is set to attract farmers, palm cultivators, and date enthusiasts from across the UAE.
New Competitions Debut at the 8th Al Dhaid Date Festival
This year's edition introduces several fresh contests alongside established categories. "Ratb Al Kharaif Beauty" makes its UAE debut as a competition exclusively for children, designed to deepen young people's connection with the nation's date palm heritage. A new category called "The Most Beautiful Home-grown Dates" is open exclusively to women participants.
The lineup also features the "Best Lemons" contest, a "Fig Contest", and — for the first time — a "Rare Dates" competition dedicated to agricultural products from Al Dhaid and the eastern and northern regions of Sharjah.
Prize Pool Exceeds AED 800,000
The 8th edition's prize pool exceeds AED 800,000, with awards distributed as gift baskets to 130 winners across all competition categories. The generous prize structure is intended to motivate farm owners to improve the quality of their date products and expand investment in palm cultivation.
The broader festival programme includes sales promotion of commercial agricultural products, guided farm tours, folklore performances, and cultural programmes aimed at raising awareness about palm tree conservation.
Festival Goals: Heritage, Youth, and Agricultural Investment
Mohammad Musabah Al Tunaiji, General Coordinator of the Al Dhaid Date Festival, underscored the event's dual mission: supporting farm owners and fruit cultivators of date palms, while introducing the younger generation to UAE cultural values and the importance of preserving the date palm tradition.
"The festival serves as a vital venue for palm owners, farmers, industry experts, and traders," Al Tunaiji noted, adding that participation has expanded this year, strengthening the event's role in boosting local date product quality and increasing returns on cultivation investment.
How to Participate
Entry requirements mandate that competitors submit locally grown dates from the 2024 season, sourced exclusively from their own farms. Participants must also provide documentation confirming agricultural land ownership and the quality standards of their produce.
The Al Dhaid Date Festival has grown year on year into one of Sharjah's most anticipated agricultural and cultural celebrations, reinforcing the emirate's commitment to preserving the UAE's deep-rooted heritage in date palm cultivation.
