Abu dhabi: Al Wathba Honey Festival, a key event within the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, concluded with significant public turnout and notable local participation. Hosted at the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, the festival featured specialised competitions, marketing showcases, and awareness programs, attracting a diverse audience.
According to Emirates News Agency, the festival showcased products from 42 local producers, including liquid and crystallised honey, beeswax, pollen, and propolis. It featured eight major competitions with 246 participants, resulting in 40 winners across various categories. Competitions included Best Liquid Sidr Honey, Best Liquid Samar Honey, and Best Honeycomb, among others.
Fadel Nasser Al Saadi highlighted the festival's role as a supportive platform for local producers, enhancing production quality. Amina Mohammed noted the boost in investment and economic sustainability for beekeepers. Mohammed Saleh Al Katheeri emphasized the festival's incentive for innovation and quality improvement in Emirati honey production.
Engineer Mansour Al Saeedi, Chairman of the festival, described it as a strategic platform for strengthening Emirati honey's competitiveness and supporting beekeepers through training and awareness programs. He emphasized the festival's role in agricultural sustainability and national food security.
Al Saeedi added that the festival has established itself as a leading agricultural event, reflecting Abu Dhabi's commitment to developing the honey sector. The strong turnout and participation demonstrate growing confidence in the festival's role in fostering innovation and product quality.
The competitions, concluding on 14th December, showcased advanced participation and highlighted successful beekeeping practices. Al Saeedi stressed the festival's vision for sustainable food security and its contribution to UAE's leadership in high-quality honey production.
For the first time, the festival welcomed the UAE Beekeepers Association, noting the upcoming 50th International Apimondia Congress in Dubai in 2027, marking the first time the event will be hosted in the Arab world.