The Emirates International Date Palm Festival, one of the premier exhibitions for the global dates industry, will kick off on November 26 this year and last till December 1 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, announced the Higher Organizing Committee for the festival.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), the festival will be organized by Turret Media in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority.  

Mr. Mohamed Jalal Al Reyaysa, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee for the Festival, said, �The festival, which will be accompanied by a wide variety of cultural, culinary and recreational activities, will provide date lovers and heritage enthusiasts an opportunity to savor the best dates from the region and abroad. Visitors will get to learn about and relish the various facets of dates and date palm through special events and activities focusing on arts, cuisines, date palm cultivation and climbing." 

Al Rayaysa pointed out that the success of previous editions of the festival had attracted some of the largest producers and exporters in the industry to take part. The festival in Abu Dhabi will include national pavilions from Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, China, and Libya. More than 90% of participants from last year will return to the festival this year," he added.  

Al Reyaysa said that the festival would include several new activities, besides those featured previously, to highlight the UAE heritage and culture as well as the significance of palm trees and dates. "Palm tree cultivation, dates kitchen, Al Ain Diary Farm Children�s area, contests in palm tree climbing and palm trees and dates photography and dates tasting area are among the attractions. The festival seeks to educate visitors on the UAE's rich history with palm trees and dates, as well as provide a platform for businesses to communicate and expand their network," he added, stressing that the event underlines the UAE�s passion for dates and the palm trees and the importance of preserving local culture and heritage.   

The Emirates International Date Palm Festival will be held in conjunction with SIAL Middle East 2012, the regional edition of one of the world's largest food exhibitions, thereby providing UAE date companies with the platform to showcase their products to a much broader spectrum of visitors, traders, and industry groups. With over 200 exhibitors from more than 17 countries, the festival welcomed more than 20000 visitors last year. More than 90% of the participants and exhibitors from last year return to the 2012 edition in November.