Under the the patronage of HH Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, the UAE emirate is gearing up to host the 2016 Liwa Ajman Date Festival from from July 27 to 29 at Emirates Hospitality Centre.

The inclusion of citrus fruits in the Mazayna and a photography competition are now part of the festival that will see hundreds of farmers showcase the best and finest types of dates over three days of competition and the chance to win valuable prizes, with total prize money for the festival worth Dh400,000 ($108,876).

Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, chairman of Ajman Tourism Development Department, said: “The Liwa Ajman Date Festival is one of our initiatives to create unique tourism opportunities for residents and visitors as we strive to put Ajman as a key destination in the UAE and in the region. The annual event celebrates the culture of the UAE and supports the Government of Ajman’s strategic objective which is to promote Ajman as a tourism and investment destination.”

At the press conference taking place in Fairmont Ajman Hotel, the organizers invited the public to attend the festival where they can learn about Emirati culture and enjoy a variety of traditional events.

Faisal Al Nuaimi said: “The Liwa Ajman Dates Festival is a major tourism event for Ajman that will offer a unique tourism experience for both residents and visitors. The festival is one of the events that will make Ajman a destination of choice which is all part of our strategic plan. Since its launch in 2011, the festival has been aspiring to transform the palm tree into a symbol of past authenticity, a source of blessing in the present, and a guarantee of prosperity for the future.”

Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, director of the Liwa Date Festival, said: “The event aims to educate farmers on the ways of modern farming and caring for palm trees. This presents a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to discover the many varieties of dates and for those interested in dates and cultivation of palm trees to meet and interact. The festival serves as an annual event to exchange technical expertise among farmers in order to provide the best quality produce.”

The three-day festival will have local farmers take part in the Mazayna which includes several varieties of the Dates namely Al Nokhba (The Elite), Al Khallas, Al Kunaizi, Al Barhi, Al Sheshe and Lulu. This year citrus fruits (lemon, orange, grapefruit, mandarin and pomelo) have been added to the categories. There is a Photography Competition and photographers are invited to take their most spectacular shots of the palms and dates in the UAE and enter the competition via Instagram to win prizes. The last day for submitting the entries is on July 26.

In addition, there is the traditional market where visitors can enjoy buying authentic heritage products, dates and citrus while children can enjoy several activities in ‘The kids’, creativity and palm tree corners. Participating chefs from several well known hotels in Ajman such as: Ajman Saray, Fairmont Ajman, Kempinski Ajman, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and the Ajman Palace will prepare dates sweets and desserts for tasting. There will be lectures and demonstrations on the best practice in the farming field.

The Liwa Ajman Date Festival is being organised by Ajman Tourism Development Department with the cooperation of Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee and its main sponsors. - TradeArabia News Service