Dubai’s popular event Hatta Honey Festival begins

Dubai: The Hatta Honey Festival, the UAE’s leading annual event supporting Emirati beekeepers and the honey production sector, begins today (Friday) December 27.

Organised by Dubai Municipality, the festival will run until December 31 and feature the participation of 52 Emirati beekeepers. This initiative aligns with The Hatta Master Development Plan, which seeks to enhance the area through various economic and developmental projects, as well as provide investment opportunities for the private sector.

Part of the ‘Hatta Winter initiative, the festival offers residents, tourists, and visitors an excellent opportunity to explore diverse honey varieties and experience Hatta’s unique natural beauty, rugged terrain, and pleasant winter climate. As one of the UAE’s and Dubai’s most prominent tourist destinations, Hatta continues to strengthen its global appeal and leadership on the international tourism map.

The festival — which will be held at Hatta Hall — supports the honey production sector and Emirati beekeepers, serving as an investment and marketing platform for showcasing honey products to visitors and tourists. It aims to enhance quality and health safety standards in Dubai’s honey industry, facilitate knowledge exchange in honey production, and highlight innovative methods to improve honey quality.

In addition, the event creates economic and investment opportunities for Hatta residents and local SMEs, contributing to the emirate’s strategy for comprehensive development and improving community well-being.

Dr Naseem Mohammed Rafee, Acting CEO of the Environment, Health and Safety Agency at Dubai Municipality, emphasised the festival’s significance: “The Hatta Honey Festival is an integral part of Dubai Municipality’s efforts to enhance the region’s attractiveness as a tourist and leisure destination. It supports our commitment to developing facilities and tourism sites capable of hosting seasonal economic, recreational, and sporting events that strengthen Hatta’s position within Dubai.”

Dr Naseem Rafee also highlighted the municipality’s priorities, stating: “Community initiatives that support productive sectors — especially agriculture and SMEs — are a priority for Dubai Municipality. These initiatives aim to create economic opportunities that bolster local productive projects and empower national entrepreneurs, helping to develop, sustain, and elevate their ventures while opening new channels for their contribution to the local economy.

“Additionally, during the festival, Dubai Municipality provides extensive laboratory testing to ensure quality and safety, reinforcing a robust food and health system that protects against food-related risks.”

This year’s festival includes an auction where visitors can purchase a variety of honey types and a competition to determine the best Emirati honey, with valuable prizes awarded to winners in addition to workshops. The festival will also feature activities, including five booths showcasing products from home-based businesses, ten educational workshops on honey production, and a stage for daily entertainment events featuring arts and folk groups, as well as dedicated play areas for children. In addition to these highlights, the festival will include various sections such as a training workshops section, an auction and competitions area, a section for home-based businesses, a platform for the Dubai Central Laboratory, and UAE food bank platform.

Dubai Municipality is providing extensive support for national beekeepers, including immediate testing of honey samples to ensure compliance with approved standards. Tests cover total sugars, glucose, sucrose, fructose, and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF).

The Dubai Smart Mobile Laboratory will also conduct tests for yeasts and fungi in honey products and evaluate the safety of prepared foods offered by participating establishments to ensure the quality and safety of the food provided, in line with Dubai Municipality’s objectives to establish a sustainable environmental and food system and to safeguard the health and safety of the public.