The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has set up a pavilion at the Al Dhafra Dates Festival and Auction to display its range of projects aimed at advancing palm cultivation and community education. According to ADAFSA the initiative includes distribution of educational materials and virtual workshops on good agricultural practices for palm trees and dates. The authority is also promoting the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award to encourage registration among farmers and livestock breeders. This participation forms part of ongoing coordination with the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority which organises the festival.
ADAFSA reported that it will introduce visitors to new economic activities suitable for farms in the Al Dhafra region with successful adopters sharing their experiences on site. The authority is presenting the Livestock Holding Index as a tool to track inputs and outputs on livestock farms and support sector development. In addition ADAFSA is raising awareness of major agricultural pests that affect palm trees along with prevention methods and the importance of local date varieties. These displays seek to build knowledge among attendees and promote sustainable practices across the emirate.
The fifth edition of the festival runs from October 16 to 25 under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan with Kuwait serving as guest of honour the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority said. Organisers have prepared 22 competitions offering 180 prizes valued at AED4.6 million in total along with a new Date Palm Auction to preserve rare cultivars. Daily auctions of Emirati dates allow farmers to market premium produce directly to buyers and enhance its economic value. Cultural performances heritage displays and family workshops complete the programme.
ADAFSA figures show that Abu Dhabi produced 234079 tonnes of dates last year from more than 25500 farms while the UAE ranks eighth worldwide with annual output near 400000 tonnes. The authority operates an integrated pest management programme that deployed over 124000 pheromone traps between 2019 and 2025 resulting in the capture of more than 11 million red palm weevils. More than 300000 infected trees were treated in the same period and 2546 tonnes of palm waste were converted into organic fertiliser. Such outcomes have reduced infestation levels and supported the sustainability of date production chains.
The authority has released a comprehensive guide to 61 date varieties found in Abu Dhabi to assist farmers in selecting cultivars matched to local conditions and market demand. This resource complements festival activities by providing technical references that improve productivity and preserve genetic diversity ADAFSA stated. Training programmes and research into pollen impacts on yield form additional elements of the authority’s work to strengthen the sector. These steps contribute to Abu Dhabi’s broader food security objectives.
Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei acting director general of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority noted that the festival creates opportunities for knowledge exchange and helps elevate the quality of locally grown dates. The event underscores the palm tree’s enduring place in Emirati heritage while linking producers with modern agricultural tools. ADAFSA’s pavilion activities align with this goal by focusing on practical guidance that benefits both established farmers and new entrants to the sector.
