The Emirates Red Crescent is participating in the 5th Al Dhafra Dates Festival with a dedicated pavilion that provides first aid to visitors and raises awareness of the organisation’s humanitarian programmes the Emirates News Agency reported. Volunteers at the site are engaging with attendees to explain the group’s role in local community support and international relief efforts. This involvement comes as the festival draws large crowds to Madinat Zayed in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office the festival opened on October 16 under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and features Kuwait as guest of honour to celebrate shared Gulf cultural ties. The event organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority includes 22 competitions offering 180 prizes worth AED4.6 million in total along with daily dates auctions and a new palm tree auction. 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.
Rashid Khadem Al Rumaithi director of the Al Dhafra Dates Festival explained that seven date beauty contests form a core part of the programme covering varieties such as Al Dhafra Elite Fardh Zamli Dabbas Boumaan Khalas and Shishi. The schedule also encompasses an international competition for cooking with dates date products and olive oil that brings together hotel chefs and productive family representatives. Additional activities include heritage workshops cultural performances and family entertainment running through the festival’s closing on October 25.
The Emirates News Agency stated that the Red Crescent pavilion serves as a hub for medical assistance and educational outreach allowing visitors to learn about volunteer opportunities and disaster preparedness. The organisation has a longstanding record of supporting national events by ensuring public safety and promoting humanitarian values. Its presence at the festival aligns with broader efforts to integrate community service into major cultural gatherings across the UAE.
A report from the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority indicated that the festival promotes sustainable agriculture and food security by encouraging farmers to improve date quality and adopt better cultivation practices. Previous editions have generated significant economic activity through auctions and sales with one recent event recording more than AED72,000 in dates transactions according to coverage by Gulf News. The current edition builds on that foundation by introducing the palm auction to propagate rare local cultivars and support agricultural sustainability.
Emirates Red Crescent officials highlighted that the initiative enables direct interaction with the public to recruit new volunteers and showcase the group’s contributions to both domestic welfare projects and global aid missions. The pavilion distributes materials on first aid techniques and emergency response while offering on-site support for any minor incidents during the busy festival period. This participation underscores the organisation’s ongoing role in fostering community resilience and humanitarian engagement within the UAE.
