Al Wathba Vegetarian Festival kicks off on February 2 in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, January 30 / WAM / The activities of the Al Wathba Vegetable Festival, one of the most prominent festivals accompanying the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence, will begin on February 2, within the framework of the award’s vision to support the local agricultural sector, promote the concepts of sustainability and food security, and encourage high-quality plant production.

The festival, which continues until February 13, 2026, offers a diverse program of specialized activities, including training workshops on home farming and crop management, awareness lectures presented by experts in plant production, in addition to direct demonstrations of modern and smart agricultural methods.

The festival also provides platforms to display high-quality local products, and hosts activities directed at children to enhance the connection of new generations with agriculture, which contributes to spreading the culture of local and home agriculture and highlighting the quality of national products and their ability to compete according to the highest approved standards.

The total value of the Al Wathba Vegetarian Festival prizes is 315 thousand dirhams, distributed over a number of specific competitions, including the Best Sidr Basket Competition, the Best Fig Basket Competition, and the House Fruit Basket Competition, in addition to competitions for transformative products of fruits and vegetables. Strict standards have been adopted to ensure integrity, quality and food safety in all entries.

As part of the festival’s activities, the Best Sidr Basket Competition will begin on Monday, February 2, and valuable financial prizes will be allocated for it. The first-place winner will receive 25,000 dirhams, the second will receive 15,000 dirhams, the third will receive 10,000 dirhams, the fourth will receive 8,000 dirhams, and the fifth will receive 5,000 dirhams, with the requirement that the Sidr be of local production in the UAE, presented with a weight of no less than 3 kilograms, and in accordance with approved technical controls.

All participants are subject to testing for pesticide residues in laboratories accredited by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, in order to preserve consumer safety and establish quality standards. Participants must also attach an identification card to the samples that includes the name of the variety, the method of cultivation, and the origin of the product, without indicating the trade name or the name of the participant.

Ahmed Al Kaabi, head of the Al Wathba Vegetarian Festival team, said that the festival is an important national platform to highlight the successes achieved by the agricultural sector in the country, stressing that the event reflects the vision of the wise leadership in promoting agricultural sustainability and achieving food security.

He added that holding the Al Wathba Vegetarian Festival comes within the efforts of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence, which is one of the leading national initiatives in supporting local farmers and producers and promoting innovation in the agricultural sector, and aims to honor distinguished models in plant and animal production and encourage the adoption of the best sustainable agricultural practices in a way that contributes to strengthening the food security system in the UAE.

He explained that the Al Wathba Vegetarian Festival is not limited to being a competitive event, but rather represents a knowledge and awareness space that contributes to raising community awareness of the importance of local agriculture and encourages individuals and families to adopt home farming practices and sustainable production. He pointed out that the various competitions, most notably the Best Sidr Basket Competition, are designed according to precise standards that ensure justice and transparency and reflect the quality of the local product, and that the value of the prizes constitutes a great incentive for participants to develop their products and raise the level of production.

Al Kaabi pointed out that cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority enhances the reliability of the festival and confirms strict adherence to food safety standards through approved laboratory tests that guarantee the quality and safety of participating products.

He stressed that the Al Wathba Vegetarian Festival constitutes a qualitative addition to the agricultural agenda in the country, and embodies the keenness of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence to empower farmers, support agricultural innovation, and enhance the status of the national product in local markets.

The festival targets different segments of society, from farmers and producers to productive families and those interested in sustainable agriculture, in addition to visitors to the Sheikh Zayed Festival, including citizens, residents and tourists, and provides the opportunity to interact directly with experts and learn about the latest agricultural practices in the country.

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