Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority has announced the launch of the inaugural edition of Al Ain Dates Festival.

The festival will showcase a variety of competitions and events celebrating the date harvest season, including seven main date competitions focusing on such categories as Al Ain Elite, Khalas, Fard, Dabbas, Bumaan, Sheeshi, and Zamli.

A total of 70 prizes, with a combined value exceeding 1.7 million dirhams, have been allocated for these competitions. The festival will also feature a date auction, date shops, a traditional market, a heritage village, exhibitor pavilions, a children's corner, a section for craftswomen, a photo exhibition, a performance stage, and folk art performances.

The festival highlights the role of the palm tree and its associated traditional and modern industries, alongside supporting local products and the agricultural sector in general, with a particular focus on date production. It underscores the vital role of dates in economic diversification, their contribution to the national economy, and the fortification of the country's food security system.