With the months of heat that the Emirates witness in the period from June to August of each year, the wet season returns, this lovable fruit that connects with the people of the Arab region is a close relationship dating back to a long history of love and appreciation for it, and the palm tree that occupied a unique place in the social and economic life of the population And it appeared in the titles that they called them like "the mother tree" and "the blessed tree", this position came from what the palm offers from multiple giving, palm fruit was the basic food in the Arab diet, a vital source of food and energy, and a way to preserve health, as it was The palm tree, its fronds, and its branches have great benefits, as they are used to build homes, fences, beams, baskets, ropes, and other products that the Arab person used in his daily life. Therefore, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, took great interest in palm cultivation in particular, and he was able to achieve a surge in the number of palm trees in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the state in general.
Wet rant season
With the onset of the spring months, the wet harvest or dementia season begins, bringing goodness to all, after a long waiting period during which the farmer monitors and takes care of his farm, pollinating palm trees and following up pesticide spraying campaigns and controlling agricultural pests, and other necessary actions, and then begins observing «Azouk »Sifting with anticipation in search of preaching, which are the grains that ripen from the wet first, and with the advent of the first preaching, the owner rushes to guide her to the family, neighbors and friends, and the wet with the dallah of coffee becomes the title of hospitality in homes and councils, and the harvest season continues until the end of the waking season and the fall season "As-Safri", where a portion of the wet is stored in containers made of palm leaves, and the children often participate in the wet rant, and in the past they were learning to climb the palms and rip the fruits.
42 million palm trees
The actual number of palm trees in the country exceeds 42 million, of which more than 33 million are in Abu Dhabi alone, and palm trees in the UAE produce more than 73 types of the finest types of dates in the world. There is a gene pool that includes about 120 varieties, which have been added to many new varieties to those that were known in the Emirates, and among the types of dates in the Emirates: (Khalas, Boumaan, Halawi, Hassawi, Khasab, Khenizi, Lulu, Nagal, Debbas, Hilali, Sword), and other species. The types of wet and dates differ from one region to another, as they differ according to their characteristics. For example, the Al Dhafra region is famous for the "dabbas" variety, and it is considered the most widespread, and its start dates back to the Liwa region, and it was mentioned in the common vernacular proverb that "what the stapler sows does not take people's daughters »To indicate the importance of dates in the life of the population in economic terms. As for the Al Ain region, it is famous for many varieties, including (al-Fard and Bumin), and other types that exist in hot dry climates, where the impression is characterized by its regular cylindrical shape, and it has a red crust tinged with a dark yellow color, and it is also rich in vitamins, minerals, calcium, iron, And phosphorus, and other important nutrients, and this type is low in sugars, especially sucrose, and does not contain fat, cholesterol-free, and adding a small amount of it to the daily meal helps in losing weight, and it has been said in the colloquial saying "imposing knee nails", while The "Boumaan" cultivar is considered one of the varieties that can be eaten as a substitute for snacks, because of its natural sugar content, such as glucose, sucrose and fructose, and it can relieve stomach disorders caused by various reasons, while other Emirates are famous for other types and varieties, including (Lulu, Hatami and Jish Rabie Al-Khunaizi), and the “Lulu” dates are distinguished by their unique luxurious properties, as well as the dark brown color, and its round shape, and the demand for this type is very high, given that it comes in the middle of the harvest seasons, and this is also due to the balance of its content from Heavily sugar.
In economic terms, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed that the country’s share in global date exports in 2018 amounted to more than 5%, according to data “TradeMap”, which is concerned with global trade figures, indicating that the production volume exceeds 500 thousand Tons of fresh fruits annually. Pointing out that the increase in demand for Emirati dates, which exist in more than 45 countries in the world, which places the UAE among the 10 most important date producing countries in the world, as it accounts for about 30% of the volume of global foreign trade, whether import or export. .
Human heritage
The UAE is not only interested in dates on the economic side, as it is an integral part of the identity and heritage of the country and the region as a whole, and therefore is keen to celebrate this heritage, through various events and initiatives, most notably the registration of the palm file in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO, in December 2019, and that Within the framework of the UAE’s keenness to preserve the state’s heritage and promote it through UNESCO, the first sponsor of culture and common human heritage.
Annual festivals
The UAE also witnesses annual festivals to celebrate the "blessed tree" and its fruits, the most prominent of which is the Liwa Date Festival, which takes place in Al Dhafra Region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. The 16th edition of the festival, which was held this year, witnessed raising the value of prizes and increasing the categories of wet and fruit competitions that the festival is witnessing, according to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, bringing the value of the awards to more than eight Millions and 200 thousand dirhams.
The country is also witnessing the organization of the Liwa Ajman Wet and Honey Festival, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman.
Khalifa Date Palm
Within the framework of the Emirates endeavor to establish the date production industry as one of its priorities, the "Khalifa International Date Palm Date and Agricultural Innovation Award" was established with the aim of promoting and encouraging agricultural innovation and date palm research studies and their spread in the world, and appreciation of those who made significant contributions in this field from individuals and institutions. The award was designed to confirm the leadership of the UAE in the agricultural and date palm sectors, and its superiority in this aspect at the global level, as well as to contribute to motivating experts, researchers, scientists and farmers to innovate to develop the agricultural sector, in order to contribute to providing the best solutions and ways to meet the world’s need for food, given The agricultural sector is an important pillar in this regard.
Palm weevil
Red palm weevil is one of the most dangerous pests that affect palm trees in the Middle East, and cause severe damage to them. Therefore, the UAE is making strenuous efforts to combat and eliminate this scourge, and has announced its contribution of two million dollars in the interest of supporting the trust fund to eradicate this pest.
73
One of the finest types of dates in the world.
500
One thousand tons per year of fresh fruits.
Sheikh Zayed was interested in palm cultivation, and he was able to achieve a breakthrough in its spread and numbers.
Al Dhafra region is known for its "dabbas" variety, and it is considered the most widespread one, and its start dates back to the Liwa region.
"Memory of the Nation"
A weekly page presented by «Emirates Today», in cooperation with the National Archives of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, with the aim of introducing the life in the Emirates before the union, and during its early beginnings, and the great effort made by the founding fathers of the state to establish it, and link it with the achievements of the leaders of the Emirates today And her children are achievements that the world has witnessed.