5th Al Dhafra Dates Festival set for 16-25 October 2026 in Madinat Zayed

Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority will organise the fifth edition of the Al Dhafra Dates Festival in Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra Region, from 16 to 25 October 2026, with the State of Kuwait participating as Guest of Honour.

Kuwait’s participation reflects the deep-rooted fraternal ties between the two countries and their shared cultural heritage. It will offer visitors an opportunity to discover different facets of Kuwaiti heritage while encouraging interaction and the exchange of expertise among participants. This will enhance the visitor experience, celebrate the diversity of Gulf heritage and underscore the strong cultural bonds that unite the peoples of the region.

The festival will feature 22 competitions offering 180 prizes with a total value of AED4.6 million, alongside a daily dates auction and a programme of heritage, cultural and family-oriented activities. The fifth edition will also introduce the Date Palm Auction for the first time.

His Excellency Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Acting Director General of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, said the festival reflects the authority’s commitment to preserving the heritage associated with the palm tree and reinforcing its place in the UAE’s national identity. He added that the event provides a platform to support producers and showcase the quality and diversity of Emirati dates.

He further noted that the festival supports Emirati farmers by creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and marketing their produce, contributing to improvements in the quality of locally grown dates. It also opens up opportunities for honey producers, artisans, productive families and national entrepreneurs.

In addition, the festival contributes to preserving local palm varieties, propagating rare cultivars and promoting sustainable agricultural practices that support food security. It also celebrates local arts and talent, helping to stimulate tourism and strengthen the local economy in Al Dhafra Region.

Rashid Khadem Al Rumaithi, Director of the Al Dhafra Dates Festival, explained that the festival’s competitions include seven date beauty contests: Al Dhafra Elite, Fardh, Zamli, Dabbas, Boumaan, Khalas and Shishi. These are complemented by two date-packaging competitions, one for natural dates and another for dates prepared with added ingredients.

The honey competition features five categories: Sidr Honey, Samar Honey, Liquid Honey, Honeycomb and Crystallised Honey.

Al Rumaithi noted that the festival’s daily dates auction will begin at 5pm, providing farmers with an opportunity to showcase and market their finest local produce while enhancing its economic value.

The new Palm Auction will seek to preserve local palm varieties, propagate rare and economically valuable cultivars, and make them available to farmers and enthusiasts.

The festival programme also includes the International Competition for Cooking with Dates, Date Products and Olive Oil, bringing together chefs from hotels and representatives of productive families.

The Photography Award will feature three themes: Palm Trees and Dates, Marine Life, and Wildlife in Al Dhafra. The Live Painting Competition, meanwhile, will centre on two themes: Palm Trees and Dates, and Wildlife and Marine Life in Al Dhafra.

Al Rumaithi affirmed that the festival promotes awareness of Emirati heritage through a diverse programme of heritage activities, workshops, public competitions on the main stage and live performances showcasing the knowledge, skills and values associated with the local environment.

These activities offer visitors of all ages opportunities to engage in artistic and hands-on experiences, enabling them to discover, appreciate and express different aspects of the UAE’s cultural heritage.

He invited farmers, producers and artists to familiarise themselves with the participation requirements and competition schedules and register through the Falak Al Namous application. He also encouraged the public to attend the festival and enjoy the daily date auctions, along with a range of heritage, artistic and family-friendly activities.