The eighth edition of EIDPF, the region’s largest specialised event dedicated to dates, will run from 24 to 29 November, 2014 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA).

The announcement was made during a press conference organised by the EIDPF Organizing Committee that was headlined by Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Head of EIDPF Organizing Committee and Director of Communications and Community Service at ADFCA, Fadi Saad, EIDPF Director, and a number of representatives from Al Foah, Al Dahra Agriculture and Kingdom Dates, official sponsors of the event.

Organized by ADFCA in association with Date Palm Friends Society and SIAL Middle East, EIDPF 2014 is expected to draw over 200 exhibitors from 16 countries, as well as 20,000 visitors in an entertaining and family-oriented environment. Most notably, the event will offer discounts up to 40% on a wide range of date varieties.

Addressing the press conference, Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Head of EIDPF 2014 Organizing Committee, said: "The Emirates International Festival Date Palm is an ideal platform for those interested and involved in the date palm industry including farmers, investors and manufacturers of date products. In organising this annual event, we aim to highlight the nutritional benefits of dates and enhance its marketing potential, locally and globally, by leveraging global participation in the event."

“This year we have lined up several new activities and programs to present an exciting and all-inclusive event to visitors. A Date Palm Museum will serve as a key highlight this year. The museum will offer a rich learning opportunity to visitors on the history of dates, as well as recipes for the preparation of various date delicacies,” Al Rayssi added.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri acting group CEO of ADNEC said: “The International Date and Palm Festival continues to gain traction as a showcase of culture – drawing increased popularity from attendees and exhibitors from the region and around the world.

“The remarkable growth of this industry is a reflection of that fact that it now attracts leading global exhibitors, manufactures and suppliers of date products.

“ADNEC is committed to supporting this growth through an event which offers exhibitors and attendees a diverse range of services and enriches their understanding of this industry.”

Fadi Saad, EIDPF Director, said: "The eighth edition of EIDPF will host major international buyers of dates from countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Russia, and South Africa. Hosted buyers from 10 key markets for date products have confirmed that the key objective of their participation is to buy large quantities of date varieties and products. The combined value of annual purchase by the world’s largest date importers this year is estimated to be around AED 1.6 billion, while we expect to sell around 6,250 tons of dates during the upcoming edition of EIDPF. "

The Date Palm Museum will offer informative insights into the growth stages of palm trees and dates, as well as the stages of pollination, harvesting and drying of dates. It will also present the history of the palm tree in the UAE, and the significance of dates in Islamic traditions. Additionally, the museum will include several interactive booths displaying Emirati traditional handicrafts made out of palm, modern palm products, houses made out of palm leaves known as Areesh, and an interactive laboratory.

Among other activities lined up for this year are a series of entertainment, educational and fun initiatives including massive message board that will invite visitors to leave short messages with a permanent marker pen.

Palm tree climbing, another key activity, will give visitors an opportunity to take ‘selfies’ while climbing a date palm for posting on social media websites.

The food preparation area will see some of best chefs exhibiting their culinary skills in the preparation of various date delicacies. A date tasting zone, heritage tents, and kids’ zone conducting a wide variety of fun-filled activities and events for children will also serve as crowd pullers at the event.

The festival will coincide the Middle Eastern Food Exhibition (SIAL Middle East 2014) organized by ADFCA in collaboration with Date Palm Friends Society and SIAL Middle East at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

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