Liwa Ajman Dates and Honey Festival ended

Ajman, The Gulf Observer: The Liwa Ajman Dates and Honey Festival, which was organized by the Ajman Department of Tourism Development for three consecutive days at the Emirates Hospitality Centre in Ajman, concluded.

The event established itself as a pioneering platform to promote and develop the palm plantation sector and the production of dates, honey, and fruits, in addition to reviving the UAE’s cultural heritage and rich traditions.

It has succeeded in attracting a large number of visitors who enjoyed the festival’s distinguished activities and various competitions that allowed them to experience the finest dates and honey products of 2022.

The festival also witnessed the distribution of various prizes valued at AED500,000 among the participants in the competitions of the festival’s 7th edition, which included dates decoration, honey, citrus fruits, lemon, mango, and almonds competition, in addition to a traditional food and photography competitions, all of which witnessed great contest among palm tree owners, farmers, beekeepers, chefs, and photographers.

The festival witnessed a huge attendance from the public and visitors who toured the festival daily throughout its three days.

The festival included many events and activities aimed at reviving the cultural Emirati heritage and traditions in a festive atmosphere replete with entertainment suitable for the entire family.

There was a photography competition for dates and honey products in collaboration with City University College of Ajman, a cooking competition for the public, and a cooking competition for hotel facilities in Ajman.

The festival also included a display of the finest palm trees produced in the country, where several farmers exhibited their best dates, citruses, fruits, and best local honey.

Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ajman Department of Tourism Development, expressed his gratitude for the success of this year’s Liwa Ajman Dates and Honey Festival, whether with the huge participation of palm tree owners, farmers, and beekeepers or the wide attendance of the public.

He extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, for his unstinted support for the festival, which boosted this event’s reputation and position year after year to become one of the most prominent cultural, social, and economic events concerned with preserving the Emirati cultural heritage, and supported and developed the palm plantation and agriculture in general, in addition to the honey production which is considered as one of the vital sectors in the country and the main constituent of its natural environment and food resources, and a source of income for a large segment of farmers and workers in this industry.

Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi ensured the continuation of the Ajman Department of Tourism Development’s efforts to further develop the Liwa Ajman Dates and Honey Festival throughout the upcoming years and maintain its rapid and positive growth. It is keen to support farm owners and improve their revenues, develop this sector and ensure its sustainability by organising more events and activities, improve the level of competition, and provide guidance to farmers to encourage them to adopt the latest innovations and best practices in this field.

Khadija Turki, Acting Director-General of the Ajman Department of Tourism Development, indicated that the various participations in competitions organized by this year’s festival were of great value, and this affirms the farmer’s commitment to the competitions’ regulations on the one hand and their commitment to developing their farms and produce on the other. This reflects Ajman Tourism’s success in achieving its strategic objectives through this event which were to contribute to securing the country’s food security by encouraging and empowering farmers to invest in this sector, in addition to shedding light on the quality and uniqueness of Emirati products, improve its competitiveness across the world, diversify its types, and increase the revenue from the dates, honey, and fruit products.

Turki stressed that this year’s edition of the festival constituted a prominent platform to develop and improve palm plantations. It offered scientific guidance to farmers on modern farming methods, innovative irrigation models, and the best practices adopted in enhancing the quality of date production. It contributed to increasing the sustainability of cultural and traditional businesses as the organizing committee opted to support productive families and inmates by launching platforms to promote their crafts and handmade products.

The Municipal Council of Khor Fakkan City participated in the festival by showcasing the city’s best produce from mango, figs, and lemon. Dubai Municipality offered a laboratory for testing honey and determining its quality. Al Ain City Municipality shared furniture, and other products made from palm wickers, and the Sharjah Institute for Heritage offered lectures and educational workshops, in addition to a kids’ area.