Al Dhafra Dates Festival 2026 Opens in Abu Dhabi with Heritage Activities, Dates Auctions and AED 4.6 Million in Prizes
The Al Dhafra Dates Festival 2026 returns to Madinat Zayed in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region from 16 to 25 October, bringing together traditional Emirati heritage, dates competitions, live performances and family-friendly cultural activities. This year’s fifth edition will also welcome Kuwait as Guest of Honour.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, the festival celebrates the UAE’s agricultural traditions and the cultural importance of date palms.
Official festival programme: Al Dhafra Dates Festival Guide 2026
What to Expect at Al Dhafra Dates Festival 2026
The ten-day festival will feature 22 competitions offering 180 prizes worth AED 4.6 million, alongside daily dates auctions and cultural activities.
Visitors can look forward to:
- Traditional Emirati heritage workshops and live performances
- Daily dates auctions starting at 5 PM
- Date beauty and packaging competitions
- Honey competitions featuring local and specialty varieties
- Cooking competitions using dates, date products and olive oil
- Photography and live painting competitions
- Family-friendly activities celebrating UAE traditions
For the first time, the festival will also introduce a Palm Tree Auction, showcasing local varieties and rare cultivars.
Kuwait Joins as Guest of Honour
Kuwait’s participation will bring an additional cultural dimension to this year’s festival, highlighting the shared heritage and traditions of the UAE and Kuwait.
Visitors will have opportunities to discover aspects of Kuwaiti culture while exploring the wider agricultural and heritage programme.
Dates, Honey and Creative Competitions
A major highlight is the traditional dates competition, featuring seven categories including Khalas, Dabbas, Fardh, Shishi, Zamli and Boumaan.
The festival will also host five honey competition categories, covering Sidr, Samar, liquid honey, honeycomb and crystallised honey.
Beyond agriculture, visitors can explore photography and live painting competitions inspired by palm trees, dates, wildlife and marine life in Al Dhafra.
The International Cooking Competition will bring together hotel chefs and local producers to showcase creative dishes using dates and olive oil.
Al Dhafra Dates Festival 2026: Dates and Location
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 5th Al Dhafra Dates Festival |
| Dates | 16-25 October 2026 |
| Location | Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi |
| Guest of Honour | Kuwait |
| Dates Auction | Daily from 5 PM |
| Competitions | 22 categories, 180 prizes |
| Total Prize Value | AED 4.6 million |
| Organiser | Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority |
A Cultural Experience Beyond Abu Dhabi City
For visitors interested in discovering authentic Emirati traditions, the Al Dhafra Dates Festival offers an opportunity to explore the UAE’s agricultural heritage beyond the capital’s usual attractions.
From dates auctions and traditional crafts to live performances and cultural competitions, the festival celebrates the date palm’s importance to Emirati history, farming and everyday life.
News & Image Source Emirates News Agency (WAM)
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