UAE: Hatta Honey Festival Returns For Its 9th Season

The Hatta Honey Festival, a key event in the UAE, begins on Friday, 27th December 2024. Organised by Dubai Municipality, it runs until 31st December and includes 51 Emirati beekeepers. This festival supports local beekeepers and the honey industry. It aligns with the Hatta Master Development Plan's goals to boost economic growth and investment opportunities.

Visitors can explore various honey types while enjoying Hatta's natural beauty and winter climate. The festival is part of the Hatta Winter initiative, enhancing its appeal as a tourist destination. By hosting this event, Hatta strengthens its global tourism profile, attracting residents, tourists, and visitors alike.

Held at Hatta Hall, the festival promotes honey production and supports Emirati beekeepers. It offers investment and marketing opportunities by showcasing diverse honey products to tourists. The event aims to improve quality standards in Dubai's honey industry and encourages knowledge exchange on innovative production methods.

The festival also seeks to create economic opportunities for Hatta residents and local SMEs. This contributes to the emirate’s strategy for comprehensive development. Dr. Naseem Mohammed Rafee from Dubai Municipality stated that the festival enhances Hatta's attractiveness as a tourist destination by supporting productive sectors like agriculture and SMEs.

Dr. Rafee emphasised that community initiatives are crucial for creating economic opportunities that empower national entrepreneurs. These initiatives help develop sustainable ventures while opening new channels for their contribution to the local economy. During the festival, Dubai Municipality offers extensive laboratory testing to ensure quality and safety.

This year's festival includes an auction where visitors can buy different honey types and a competition for the best Emirati honey with valuable prizes. Workshops are also part of the event, providing educational insights into honey production techniques.

The festival features five booths showcasing home-based business products, ten educational workshops on honey production, daily entertainment events with arts and folk groups, and play areas for children. These activities aim to engage visitors of all ages while promoting local culture.

Dubai Municipality supports national beekeepers by conducting immediate tests on honey samples to ensure they meet approved standards. Tests cover sugars like glucose and fructose as well as hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) levels.

The Dubai Smart Mobile Laboratory will test for yeasts and fungi in honey products. It will also evaluate food safety from participating establishments to ensure quality aligns with Dubai Municipality's objectives for a sustainable food system that protects public health.

The festival not only highlights innovative methods but also focuses on training workshops, auctions, competitions, home-based businesses, the Dubai Central Laboratory, and food security sections.

This event underscores Dubai Municipality's commitment to developing facilities capable of hosting seasonal economic events that bolster Hatta’s position as a prominent destination.

With inputs from WAM