Palm growers compete intensely at 9th Al Dhaid Date Festival
The second day of the festival was focused on Khalas category, where participants showcased high-quality crops with similar weights. This made it especially difficult for the committee to select winners. A total of 83 competitors from different cities and regions across the UAE took part in this category.
Participants divided by region
To ensure fairness, the competition was divided into three regional segments: Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and other emirates. This structure allowed for balanced evaluation among participants from various parts of the country.
Significant growth in participation and crop quality
Al Ketbi highlighted that the 9th edition saw major improvements both in the number of participants and in the quality of date crops. The average size of a Khalas date reached 25 grams, reflecting a growing interest among farmers in enhancing the quality of their produce and maintaining high standards in palm cultivation.
Upcoming competition categories
According to Al Ketbi, Saturday was allocated for the Shishi category competitions. Meanwhile, today features the Elite competitions. The Elite Al Dhaid Competition is open to all participants and requires five date baskets, each weighing 3 kg. The Special Al Dhaid Competition is limited to farmers from the Northern Emirates and involves four date baskets of the same weight.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
5 days ago
- Al Etihad
Inside Museum 1185: Keepsakes from a life of honour and service to UAE
1 Aug 2025 00:07 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)What began as a simple effort to gather keepsakes from a distinguished career in public service — medals, certificates, gifts, and souvenirs — soon evolved into something greater. As he retraced his journey, Dr. Obaid Al Ketbi realised it was no longer just his story, but part of the nation's. All the mementos from Dr. Al Ketbi's 43-year career - spanning the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Police, and diplomatic posts - are now preserved in Museum 1185, situated right within his home in the UAE capital. 'The idea of establishing Museum 1185 stemmed from my conviction that every human experience has value and deserves to be preserved and narrated,' Dr. Al Ketbi told Aletihad . The museum's name itself holds deep emotional significance for Dr. Al Ketbi. 'The number 1185 has been my travelling companion from the very start. It has been my military ID number since 1977, and it has lived with me and in me as a number of belonging,' he said. 'After a very long process, I find that naming the museum by this number is the least we can offer in gratitude and in loyalty for a journey that started on support of the state and concluded also with a message of love and gratitude.' Inside, more than 15,000 items are on display. These include a Guinness-verified world record medal; more than 150 official awards and medals, such as the Stevie Awards from the US, the General Secretariat of the GCC, and the Golden Lion Award from Italy; and memorabilia from more than 160 countries. The museum features rare and meaningful artefacts - from military documents and communication tools to medals, photos, and official gifts. 'It also features communication tools, documents, and images that chronicle pivotal moments in the UAE's history and the journey of its leaders,' he 1185 is a reflection of Dr. Al Ketbi's illustrious career. Dr. Al Ketbi's journey began in 1977 when he graduated from Zayed II Military College and started a journey of public service spanning 43 years. He climbed the ranks of the UAE Armed Forces to attain the rank of Major General, occupied key positions as Chief of Logistics Staff, and commanded humanitarian operations in Iraq, Kosovo, and Lebanon. His leadership role was also reflected in the police hierarchy as Deputy Chief of Police Officer at Abu Dhabi Police and member of the Executive Council, and later in the diplomatic spectrum as UAE Ambassador to Australia as well as non-resident Ambassador to a number of Pacific states. In 2019, he was named an Assistant Minister for Military and Security Affairs. A Certificate From Sheikh Zayed Among the many meaningful artefacts on display, one holds the most profound emotional value: a princely certificate presented by the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. 'It is not only a document of honour; it is a symbol of a profound personal and spiritual relationship with the Founding Father of the nation and my spiritual father, who instilled in us the values of loyalty, belonging, and sacrifice.' In order to involve the community, especially the youth, in the museum's activities, it holds workshops, field trips, and events. It works with schools and universities, including NYU Abu Dhabi, and collaborates with the National Library and Archives. 'We place great importance on effective community engagement, particularly with the youth, believing that museums not only serve a documentary role but also play an educational and developmental role,' he said. An Open Invitation to All For Dr. Al Ketbi, the mission of the museum is greater than mere preservation. It is an open door for citizens and visitors from around the world to seek inspiration in the nation and in a man's sense of duty. 'From this point of view, I always try to share this experience with museum visitors ... to let them know that standing on the top only comes from painstaking efforts, toil and loyalty to one's country,' he said. 'The museum is more than a repository of memory; it is an open invitation to all who believe that the experience of one can become a resource for the many,' he added. As one of the few personal and private museums in the UAE, 1185 has a distinctive place in telling the story of the UAE. 'Private museums such as the Museum 1185 help play an important complementary role, a role that tells the story of the nation, the country, and the personal, human side of individuals, supplying a more comprehensive view of national history,' Dr. Al Ketbi said. 'Visitors can experience history through captivating personal stories that are linked to the spirit of the nation.' He noted that the museum is a cultural oasis that seeks to advance national pride and national values. 'Museum 1185 equally embodies a living testament to cultural diplomacy, showcasing to its cross-visiting audiences from all over the world the fundamental legacy upon which the UAE was established: Tolerance, giving and cultural openness towards the rest of the world,' Dr. Al Ketbi said. Going Smart, Going Global Dr. Al Ketbi hopes to increase the accessibility and dynamism of the museum with the use of technology. Plans include a dedicated mobile app, holographic displays, 360° virtual tours, as well as a mobile exhibition that will bring the museum's message to schools and international cultural events. 'We believe in the importance of integrating modern technology into the museum experience,' he said. 'We are also working on launching an app that will allow visitors to learn about the story of each piece using their personal mobile phones. We also have plans for a mobile exhibition that will carry the museum's message to schools and communities across the UAE, and even abroad.' Building Great History Dr. Al Ketbi aspires for Museum 1185 to become a leading cultural centre for telling human and national stories, and a platform for intergenerational dialogue.'I want it to inspire young Emiratis to carry their passion and identity confidently into the future,' he said. 'The legacy I hope the museum will leave behind is to stand as a testament that serving one's country is not a job, but an honour and a responsibility. And that every sincere effort, no matter how small, contributes to building a great history. I want every young Emirati who visits the museum to feel they have a role and a place in this ongoing narrative,' he said.
Sharjah 24
25-07-2025
- Sharjah 24
Palm growers compete intensely at 9th Al Dhaid Date Festival
Intense contest in the Khalas category The second day of the festival was focused on Khalas category, where participants showcased high-quality crops with similar weights. This made it especially difficult for the committee to select winners. A total of 83 competitors from different cities and regions across the UAE took part in this category. Participants divided by region To ensure fairness, the competition was divided into three regional segments: Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and other emirates. This structure allowed for balanced evaluation among participants from various parts of the country. Significant growth in participation and crop quality Al Ketbi highlighted that the 9th edition saw major improvements both in the number of participants and in the quality of date crops. The average size of a Khalas date reached 25 grams, reflecting a growing interest among farmers in enhancing the quality of their produce and maintaining high standards in palm cultivation. Upcoming competition categories According to Al Ketbi, Saturday was allocated for the Shishi category competitions. Meanwhile, today features the Elite competitions. The Elite Al Dhaid Competition is open to all participants and requires five date baskets, each weighing 3 kg. The Special Al Dhaid Competition is limited to farmers from the Northern Emirates and involves four date baskets of the same weight.
Gulf Today
20-07-2025
- Gulf Today
Liwa Date Festival attracts more than 50,000 visitors
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the Liwa Date Festival 2025 attracted approximately 50,225 visitors over the course of five days. Now in its 21st year, the festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority and will continue until 27 July in Liwa, Al Dhafra Region. The Liwa Date Festival is one of the most important events celebrating the heritage of palm trees and traditional farming in the UAE. This annual event is eagerly anticipated by farmers and the local community, as it provides significant support for the agricultural sector and food security. The festival features a variety of competitions, including 12 date competitions in the categories of Dabbas, Khalas, Fardh, Khunaizi, Bu Maan, Shishi and Zamli, as well as the Al Dhafra and Liwa competitions for elite dates and the Fardh and Khalas Al Ain competitions. There are also seven fruit competitions in the categories of assorted and local lemons, assorted and local mangoes, red and yellow figs, and home fruit basket. Three model farm competitions are also held, in the categories of Western Areas, Eastern Areas and Al Dhafra Cities. There is also a Most Beautiful Date Competition and a Creativity from Palm Trunk Competition. A total of 308 prizes worth Dhs8,735,000 are awarded for these competitions, in addition to theatrical competitions for visitors. The festival's diverse activities include sponsors, supporters and participants taking part, as well as a date market, palm seedlings and agricultural tools, a traditional market and handicraft displays that revive authentic heritage for new generations. There is also a corner dedicated to women's modesty and elegance, as well as a children's area where children can learn about different types of dates and the importance of caring for palm trees through play. The festival programme includes seminars, lectures and educational workshops for farmers on the latest methods of caring for palm trees, producing the highest quality dates, combating agricultural pests and reducing their incidence, identifying fungal diseases that affect palm trees and ways to prevent them, and recycling and conserving water. These events will be held at the festival theatre and the participating organisations' pavilions. The Liwa Date Festival showcases the Emirate of Abu Dhabi's dedication to preserving and safeguarding its heritage, ensuring it is passed down through the generations. The festival celebrates the date season and the palm tree, which is a deeply rooted cultural and social symbol of Emirati heritage.
