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The Al Ain Heritage Festival has announced the winners of its Bomaan dates competition, one of eight specialized date contests held during the annual cultural event. According to the organizing committee, the festival, which runs until February 9 at the Al Ain Exhibition Grounds, is organized by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority and features competitions with total prizes exceeding 4.3 million dirhams.
Guest of honor Rashid Mohammed Al Hadhar Al Dhaheri and Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Festivals and Events Sector at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, crowned the winners of the Bomaan dates competition. The festival is currently in its fourth day and continues to showcase various traditional competitions celebrating Emirati agricultural heritage.
Date Auction Results and Sales Activity
Meanwhile, the date auction held yesterday recorded significant trading activity, with the highest-priced box sold for 500 dirhams from the Zamali variety. Total sales reached 48,490 dirhams, with 909 kilograms of dates sold across 303 boxes, according to festival organizers.
The auction represents a key component of the Al Ain Heritage Festival, providing a platform for date producers to showcase premium local varieties. These transactions highlight the continued commercial value and cultural significance of traditional date cultivation in the UAE.
Traditional Coffee Competition Winners Announced
Additionally, the festival announced results from the Al Jami competition, which celebrates traditional Emirati coffee preparation. Moza Hamad Al Shamsi claimed first place, while Maryam Ali Al Ketbi secured second position and Sabha Rashid Al Shamsi took third place.
The Al Jami competition is among several cultural contests designed to preserve and promote traditional Emirati practices. However, specific prize amounts for individual competitions were not disclosed by the organizing committee.
Comprehensive Prize Structure at Al Ain Heritage Festival
The Al Ain Heritage Festival features an extensive competition program with prizes totaling more than 4.3 million dirhams across various categories. The eight date beauty contests, including competitions for Al Ain Elite, Oases Elite, Zamali, Dabbas, Khalaas, Fard, Shishi, and Bomaan varieties, account for more than 2.5 million dirhams in total prize money.
In contrast to the date competitions, the festival also hosts contests in cooking, live painting, photography, date packaging, and local honey production. These competitions carry substantial cash prizes, though specific amounts for each category have not been detailed by organizers.
Cultural Significance and Economic Impact
The date beauty competitions serve a dual purpose of preserving agricultural heritage while supporting the local farming economy. By recognizing excellence in date cultivation, the festival encourages continued investment in traditional farming practices and quality improvement among producers.
Furthermore, the diverse competition categories reflect the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority’s commitment to documenting and celebrating multiple aspects of Emirati cultural traditions. The combination of agricultural, culinary, and artistic contests creates a comprehensive platform for heritage preservation.
The Al Ain Heritage Festival will continue through February 9, with remaining competition results expected to be announced in the coming days. Authorities have not confirmed the exact schedule for announcing winners in the remaining six date variety competitions or other cultural contests still underway.
