The inaugural “Al Wathba Date Festival” continues to celebrate the rich tradition of date cultivation in Abu Dhabi, with the announcement of winners from various competitions. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the festival runs until August 9 in the Al Wathba region, fostering community engagement and showcasing agricultural excellence.
Winners Announced in Key Competitions
Yesterday, the festival’s organising committee unveiled the results of the Khalas open category and the Khalas for Abu Dhabi farms competitions, along with the “Elite Abu Dhabi Dates” contest and the Red and Yellow Fig competitions. Abdullah Mubarak Al Mehairi, Acting Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, and Dr Hamad Al Kaabi, CEO for Transformation at Abu Dhabi Media, presented awards to the distinguished winners.
Khalas Competition Results
In the Khalas open category, descendants of the late Issa Faris Said Al Mazrouei secured first place, followed closely by Mbsah Salem Said Salem Al Marrar in second, and Ali Said Hamuda Al Aryani taking third. Meanwhile, in the Khalas competition dedicated to Abu Dhabi farms, Abdullah Mohammed Saleh Salem Al Junaibi claimed first place, while Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah Al Suwaidi and Mohammed Nasser Akeem Al Harithi followed in second and third, respectively. Each of the Khalas competitions awarded a total of 15 prizes, with a cumulative value of 397,000 dirhams. The top three winners received 100,000 dirhams, 75,000 dirhams, and 40,000 dirhams respectively.
Elite Abu Dhabi Dates Achievements
The “Elite Abu Dhabi Dates” competition saw Rashid Abdullah Haza’a Al Marrar take the lead, with Obaid Said Naseeb Khamees Al Mazrouei in second and Said Salem Jaber Said Al Mansouri in third. This competition boasted an impressive prize pool of 737,000 dirhams, distributed among 15 winners, with 200,000 dirhams awarded to the first place, 150,000 dirhams to the second, and 100,000 dirhams for the third.
Fig Competitions Recognition
In the Red Fig competition, Harib Mohammed Ghanem Al Hameli achieved first place, followed by Shema Jumaa Mughayer Jaber Al Khaili in second, and Khalifa Mohammed Nasser Mohammed Al Qubaisi in third. The Yellow Fig competition delivered standout results as well, with Said Khalfan Khadem Haramous Al Mansouri taking first place, Sultan Haji Sultan Haji Al Qubaisi in second, and Fatima Mohammed Haji Al Qubaisi in third. Each Fig competition allocated 10 prizes, with a total prize pool of 117,000 dirhams where first place received 25,000 dirhams, second place 20,000 dirhams, and third place 15,000 dirhams.
Exciting Additional Competitions
As the festival progresses, it has also welcomed participants for the Khneizi and Shishi competitions, with results set to be revealed tomorrow evening on the festival stage. Yesterday, the event featured an impressive 390 kilograms of entries in the Bou Ma’an contest alongside local lemon and mixed variety competitions, presented by 65 competitors across 78 entries.
A Thriving Cultural Event
The Bou Ma’an contest showcased 130 kilograms from 13 participants over 26 entries, while the lemon competitions received 260 kilograms from 52 participants across 52 entries. The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority proudly hosts the “Al Wathba Date Festival” as part of the Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival in the Al Wathba area, opening its doors daily from 4 PM to 10 PM.