Al Wathba Dates Festival Enters Final Weekend With AED5.6 Million in Prizes
By Thasmiya
Families looking for a cultural outing in Abu Dhabi this weekend still have time to visit the inaugural **Al Wathba Dates Festival**, which continues until Sunday, August 9.
The festival is being held as part of the Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival and brings together farmers, date producers, agricultural specialists and visitors for a celebration of one of the UAE’s most important traditional crops.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the festival features **18 competitions and 240 prizes worth more than AED5.67 million**.
Visitors can see different locally produced date varieties while learning about palm cultivation, agricultural practices and the long-standing connection between dates and Emirati life.
The event is more than an agricultural competition. It gives farmers a public platform to showcase their produce and helps younger visitors understand how the date palm supported communities in the region long before the UAE developed into the modern economy it is today.
The festival also arrives at a time when food security and local agricultural production have become increasingly important areas of focus across the UAE.
For families attending the wider Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival in Al Wathba, the dates event can be incorporated into an evening visit alongside other attractions and activities.
As programmes and competition timings may vary by day, visitors should check the official festival channels before travelling.
**Why this matters**
The event combines local agriculture, Emirati heritage and family entertainment in one setting while supporting farmers and encouraging greater awareness of locally produced food.
With the festival ending on August 9, this weekend is the final opportunity to visit the inaugural edition.
**Frequently Asked Questions**
**When does Al Wathba Dates Festival end?**
The festival runs until **August 9, 2026**.
**How many prizes are available?**
There are 240 prizes across 18 competitions, with a combined value of approximately AED5.677 million.
**Where is the festival?**
It forms part of the Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival activities in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.
**Source Credits**
Information source and resource owners: Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival and Abu Dhabi Media Office. ([Media Office Abu Dhabi](https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/arts-culture/inaugural-al-wathba-dates-festival-to-open-august-3/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Image sources are combined from AI-generated visuals and other platforms. If any owner wants to be mentioned or any content needs to be changed, please email us at concerns@whatmatters.ae.
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