Al Wathba Honey Festival Launches Tomorrow To Showcase Local Producers In Abu Dhabi

The Al Wathba Honey Festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), is set to begin tomorrow. This event, part of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, will take place from 5th to 14th December at the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi. It aims to showcase local honey quality and improve beekeeping standards.

Eng. Mansour Al Saeedi, Chairman of the Festival, highlighted its role as a national platform supporting the UAE's beekeeping sector. He noted increased participation and product variety this year. "The doubling of prize money and new competition categories reflect our commitment to innovation," he stated. The Festival enhances consumer trust through strict inspection standards.

The Festival will feature eight competitions with a total prize pool of AED622,000. Categories include Best Beeswax with 28 participants and Best Pollen Product with 21 entrants. Other contests are Best Crystallised Honey with 31 competitors and Best Honeycomb with 28 entries. In total, 249 participants will compete across all categories.

A specialised committee will assess samples in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council and ADAFSA. They will conduct laboratory tests to ensure compliance with national standards. Honey must be free from impurities, foreign materials, wax residue, defects, crystallisation, air bubbles and should have a natural colour.

The Festival supports local beekeepers by developing their skills and encouraging global best practices in honey production. For the first time, the UAE Beekeepers Association will participate, highlighting the UAE's role as host for the 50th International Apicultural Congress in Dubai in 2027.

Eng. Al Saeedi encouraged beekeepers nationwide to join the main award category before the 15th December deadline. He emphasised that it provides a platform to share experiences and boost local honey competitiveness. Expanded categories and higher prizes motivate beekeepers to adopt best practices.

Educational Activities

The Festival will also offer educational activities for children throughout its duration. These activities aim to teach about honey production stages and showcase efforts to enhance local agricultural product quality in the UAE.

Close cooperation between ADAFSA and partners ensures a fair competitive environment for beekeepers. This collaboration provides opportunities for development while strengthening market access for local producers.

The event brings together 42 local producers displaying honey, pollen and propolis products to visitors from various nationalities. It aims to reinforce consumer confidence in local honey through stringent inspection standards.

This year's edition has seen significant growth in participant numbers and product range on display compared to previous years.

With inputs from WAM