(Abu Dhabi) – Over 100 baskets of Dabbas were lined up on tables awaiting judgment for the tastiest, healthiest and the best looking date of them all. This variety of date, especially popular in Liwa oasis, was the first of the 10 Ratab – half ripen dates – competitions to kick-start the 12th annual Liwa Dates Festival, which is being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Organised by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee, Abu Dhabi, the festival is a celebration of the new harvest of dates across UAE, but also a celebration of Emirati heritage and a great economic support to the Al Gharbia (the Western Region of Abu Dhabi Emirate) population.
“Dabbas, khallas, kunaizi, farth, bou maan, these are the most popular and most grown varieties of dates in the UAE, and that is why we selected them for the Ratab competitions,” said Abdullah Butti Al Qubaisi, Director of Projects Management and Communication for the Committee.
“Participants have the option to compete with other varieties of Ratab in the Nukhba competition, which awards the best basket of mixed Ratab,” he added.
Also in the Ratab “Mazeinah” (beauty competition), there is the Biggest Bunch competition as well, awarding from AED 2,000 to AED 50,000 for the top five heaviest bunch of dates.
The Festival includes around 35 exhibitors specialising in palm trees and dates, and will shed light on the latest technical and counselling services available to date farm owners.
(Courtesy WAM)
