Over 15,000 visitors atended the fourth annual Liwa Ajman Dates Festival, which concluded at the Emirates Hospitality Centre on August 4.

Organised by the Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) under the patronage of HH Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, the festival celebrates the country’s rich heritage and traditions, providing residents and visitors with a unique opportunity to learn more about the importance of date palm trees, the farming industry and types of produce grown in the country.

The three-day festival included a number of educational lectures, providing an opportunity for farmers from the region to share best practices on different cultivation techniques, challenges, and ways to improve the production of a variety of dates. In addition, as part of the ATDD’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan and in line with the UAE’s ‘Year of Giving’, a date and fruits auction was held to raise money to support a number of charitable and humanitarian projects.

This year’s festival also featured a number of competitions including a date and citrus fruits competition (Mazayna), a photography and video competition, a dessert competiion and a grand draw with a car as the main prize.

Visitors were given the chance to sample a wide variety of date-inspired dishes prepared by some of Ajman’s finest chefs at the Culinary Corner while children of all ages were entertained in the Kids’ Corner with cultural competitions and art workshops highlighting the health benefits of dates and the significance of palm trees.

Due to the success of this year’s event, a new award will be introduced next year. Based on the directives of Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, chairman of the ATDD, the award will be specifically for palm tree farmers in Ajman in recognition of their outstanding contribution.

Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, director general of the ATDD, said: “This year’s event has been our most successful to date. We have seen a huge increase in the number of visitors which is largely down to the diverse programme of events, interactive lectures and competitions.” - TradeArabia News Service