Al Wathba Date Festival returns to Abu Dhabi

116 prizes, live auctions, and immersive cultural experiences await visitors

Last updated: January 11, 2026 | 06:46

2 MIN READ

From competitions to auctions, the Al Wathba Date Festival preserves culture and supports local farmers.

Abu Dhabi: Under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority will host the third edition of the Al Wathba Date Festival from January 15 to 24, 2026. The festival is part of the Sheikh Zayed Festival in the Al Wathba area of Abu Dhabi.

The festival aims to support date palm farmers, promote local date production, and encourage innovation in date cultivation and related industries, while preserving the UAE’s agricultural heritage for future generations.

This year’s edition features 14 competitions offering 116 prizes with a combined value exceeding AED 2 million. Highlights include seven date-judging competitions (Mazayna) for varieties such as Nokhbat Al Wathba, Dabbas, Khalas, Fardh, Shishi, Boumaan, and Zamli; two date packaging contests (with and without additives); three cooking competitions; a photography contest in two categories—UAE Heritage and Environment & Sustainability; and a live painting competition.

Also Read: Al Dhafra Festival: Where culture, creativity and camels take centre stage

The festival also hosts the “Date Auction”, showcasing the UAE’s finest premium date varieties and encouraging farmers, thereby supporting the sustainability and development of the date sector. Visitors can bid on premium Emirati dates displayed at the auction.

Beyond competitions, the festival offers a fully immersive heritage experience, featuring traditional activities, folk performances, date retail outlets, and a traditional market presenting products that reflect the authentic Emirati identity.

Also Read: Al Wathba Food Festival draws crowds to celebrate Emirati culinary heritage

The Al Wathba Date Festival serves as a platform for marketing dates and related products, preserving the nation’s agricultural heritage, and facilitating knowledge exchange among farmers on modern cultivation techniques, date palm care, and the promotion of Emirati heritage.

The festival underscores the UAE’s long-standing respect for the date palm and its products—as symbols of generosity and national identity, and as a vital resource supporting food security and sustainable agricultural development.

Abdulla RasheedEditor - Abu Dhabi

Abdullah Rashid Al Hammadi  is an accomplished Emirati journalist with over 45 years of experience in both Arabic and English media. He currently serves as the Abu Dhabi Bureau Chief fo Gulf News. Al Hammadi began his career in 1980 with Al Ittihad newspaper, where he rose through the ranks to hold key editorial positions, including Head of International News, Director of the Research Center, and Acting Managing Editor. A founding member of the UAE Journalists Association and a former board member, he is also affiliated with the General Federation of Arab Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists. Al Hammadi studied Information Systems Technology at the University of Virginia and completed journalism training with Reuters in Cairo and London. During his time in Washington, D.C., he reported for Alittihad  and became a member of the National Press Club. From 2000 to 2008, he wrote the widely read Dababees column, known for its critical take on social issues. Throughout his career, Al Hammadi has conducted high-profile interviews with prominent leaders including UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and key Arab figures such as the late Yasser Arafat and former presidents of Yemen and Egypt. He has reported on major historical events such as the Iran-Iraq war, the liberation of Kuwait, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. His work continues to shape and influence journalism in the UAE and the wider Arab world.