24DATE PALM FESTIVAL PREVIEWReturning for its sixth annual celebration ofthe UAE's culture and heritage, theEmirates International Date Palm Festivalwill feature a number of activities for families toenjoy and learn the importance of the date fruitin the rich traditions of the region. Theprograms featured at the event this year includeTheatre Performances, Palm Tree Climbing,Date Tree Planting, Kid's Area, Photo GalleryCompetition and Date Tasting.Organised by Abu Dhabi <strong>Food</strong> ControlAuthority (ADFCA), Date Palm Friends Societyand Turret Media, the Date Palm Festival is heldunder the patronage of His Highness SheikhMansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy PrimeMinister, Minister of Presidential Affairs andChairman of ADFCA, and will take place fromEMIRATESINTERNATIONALDATE PALM FESTIVALTO TAKE PLACE INTHE LAST WEEK OFNOVEMBERFOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2012
DATE PALM FESTIVAL PREVIEW25FEATURING THEATRE PERFORMANCES, PALM TREE CLIMBING, DATE TREE PLANTING, KID'SAREA, PHOTO GALLERY COMPETITION, DATE TASTING AND ONE GOLDEN TICKET26 November - 1 December 2012 at the AbuDhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), inAbu Dhabi, UAE.Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Chairman ofthe Higher Organising Committee for theFestival and the official spokesperson forADFCA, said: "The Date Palm Festival is ourway of paying tribute to a significant part ofour culture and heritage. At the same time, it isalso an occasion for promoting the commercialaspect of the dates industry. The UAE is amongthe top producers and exporters of dates anddates products in the world. The festivalpresents a rare opportunity for dates businessesfrom around the globe to liaise with oneanother and explore possibilities of cooperationand collaboration," explained."We expect to attract well over 18,000visitors this year. In addition to all our activities,we have a new feature called 'One GoldenTicket'. All the exhibitors participating haveprovided us with a variety of gifts. People willhave to enter their names in a raffle any timeduring the festival and at the end; one luckywinner will get all the gifts,” Al Reyaysa added.One of the key features at this year's festival isthe Date Palm Theatre, in which students fromschools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the westernregion will entertain audiences throughout theweek with plays, dances, competitions and fashionshows, whilst highlighting the region's customs andtraditions. This is organized in cooperation with theAbu Dhabi Education Council.After having a favourable response last yearwith over 400 saplings planted, the Date TreePlanting feature is set to return giving festivalpatrons a chance to be a part of history andcontribute to enhancing the UAE environment.ADFCA has allocated a specific area in AbuDhabi where the planted saplings will benurtured into beautiful date palm trees for futuregenerations to enjoy. Showcasing how Emiratislived decades ago, parents and children canvisit the Heritage Village to learn how thenation's ancestors lived.Competitions this year at the Date PalmFestival include the Date Tree Climbingcompetition and the Photo Gallery competition.Avid climbers will race to the top of the datepalm tree to be crowned the UAE's fastest datetree climber. Furthermore, the artistic vision ofphotographers will be rewarded as they cansubmit entries of photographic geniusshowcasing their individual interpretations ofthe date fruit or the date palm tree. Thephotographs will then be displayed during thefestival for people to view and experience.A variety of fun activities will be availablefor children at the Learning Booth - Kids Area.Children can have their faces painted, learnabout the nutritious benefit of the fruit and havea great time playing with other children.Over 200 exhibitors from 18 countries areconfirmed to participate at this year's festival.Festival visitors will also be able to taste deliciousfruit for several leading exhibitors across theregion at the Date Tasting Area. Exhibitorsparticipating this year are confirmed to bring avariety of dates from countries such as the UnitedArab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco,Iraq, Tunisia, Libya and more.OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2012FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST
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