Launch of the third edition of “Dubai Wet”

DUBAI, 18th July, 2017 (WAM) – The activities of the third edition of “Dubai Dates”, organized by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Center for Heritage Revival, kicked off today, amid wide participation from various emirates of the country, and a remarkable public presence on its first day, reflecting the growing status that the event has come to occupy as a national platform that brings together palm people, farmers, institutions, and those interested in the palm and date palm sector.

The first day witnessed strong competition in a number of main rounds, as the winners were crowned in first place in the rounds of “Largest Welded Dubai”, “Largest Welded General”, and “Sweet Dubai”, one of the rare and distinguished varieties, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Rabie Saif Busnad, Director General of Dubai Customs, and Abdullah Al Obaidli, Director of Al Shindagha Museum, an affiliate of Dubai Culture, and a number of ambassadors and members of diplomatic missions in the country.

The event was also visited by His Excellency Abdullah Al Basti, Secretary General of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, and His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.

The third edition of “Dubai Wet” comes with a broader program and more diverse content, with 15 rounds that reflect the development of the event year after year, whether in terms of the quality of competitions or the expansion of the circle of community and institutional participation, in addition to the introduction of the Golden Das Award, which is considered the most prominent addition this year, and is awarded to the most distinguished participant in terms of his total results in the various rounds of the event.

The first day’s competitions were characterized by a high level of competition, as the largest races witnessed remarkable participation of trees whose weights approached the 100 kilogram mark, a clear indication of the amount of care that the participants pay to the palm tree, and the continuous development in methods of cultivation, care, and improvement of the quality of production.

The results showed that the competition is no longer based only on traditional participation, but rather reflects accumulated experiences and increasing awareness among palm trees people of the importance of developing production and adhering to quality standards, thus enhancing the position of Dubai Dates as a stimulating platform to advance the date palm and dates sector at the state level.

The Golden Das Award represents a qualitative shift in the competition system, as it does not focus on winning in one round only, but rather celebrates the participant who achieves the best integrated competitive presence across the various rounds, through the total results and positions he achieves throughout the days of the event.

The award reflects a new philosophy in evaluation, which is based on honoring continuity, appreciating accumulated effort, and encouraging participants to improve the quality of their entries in more than one category, which contributes to raising the ceiling of competition and motivating the people of palm trees to develop their production in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.

On this occasion, His Excellency Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmouk, CEO of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Center for Heritage Revival, said that the launch of the third edition of “Dubai Dates” with this momentum confirms that the event was able to move from being a seasonal event to a community platform that has a clear impact on people’s relationship with the Palm.

He added: Since the first edition, we have not viewed Dubai Dates as a date competition only, but rather as a project that rearranges the relationship between society and the Palm. We wanted the palm tree to be present in the home, on the farm, and in the awareness of young people, and for everyone to feel that they have a role in preserving this heritage. What we see today in terms of presence, participation and interaction confirms that the Palm is still able to bring people together around one national meaning, and that society interacts with initiatives that touch its memory, values ​​and daily life.

He said: Launching the Golden Das Award this year comes from the conviction that true excellence does not appear in a single result, but rather in the ability to maintain a high level of quality, readiness, and participation across the various stages. This award does not only honor a winner in a specific category, but rather honors the person with the broadest vision, and the participant who deals with Dubai Wet Company as an integrated system, and proves his presence in more than one field. Through this, we want to promote a culture of continuous excellence, not momentary victory, and to push participants to develop their production, knowledge and practices year after year.

His Excellency pointed out that the third edition seeks to enhance the presence of the palm tree in society from multiple angles, through campaigns, events, initiatives, and the participation of government agencies and institutions, making “Dubai Dates” a space that combines agricultural expertise, the social dimension, and national participation.

The third edition witnesses wide participation from official bodies, institutions and government departments, in addition to a number of entities concerned with palm trees, agriculture and related products, which enriches the content of the event and gives visitors an opportunity to learn about the various aspects related to the world of the palm tree.

“Dubai Dates” also includes activities aimed at young people, aiming to consolidate their connection to the palm tree and introduce them to its value and status in Emirati society, in addition to social and cognitive activities that highlight the presence of the palm tree in the home and society, and open the way for families to interact with this heritage directly.

The current edition is supported and sponsored by a number of national institutions, including Dubai Municipality Emaar, Al Shindagha Museum of Dubai Culture, Furjan Dubai, Dubai Packaging Factory, and Emirates Auctions, as part of partnerships that reflect the integration of roles between the government and private sectors in supporting national initiatives that have a societal impact.

In its third edition, Dubai Dates continues to consolidate its position as a specialized national platform that celebrates the palm tree and supports the people of the palm tree, while at the same time opening a wider space for the community to learn about this sector from its agricultural, heritage and social aspects.

With the launch of its activities this year, the event proves that it is not only expanding the number of races and competitions, but rather developing the idea on which it is based, through initiatives that enhance the value of participation, link the palm tree to people’s lives, and give this Emirati symbol a renewed presence in awareness, behavior and practice.

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