The Bahariya Oasis in the Giza Governorate recently hosted the opening of the 8th Egyptian International Date Festival.
This major event is dedicated to boosting the date palm sector and fostering agricultural cooperation among Arab nations. The festival was organized by the Khalifa International Prize for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation—part of the UAE’s Al Nahyan Humanitarian Heritage Foundation—in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Industry and the Giza Governorate. The event successfully brought together 120 farmers and exhibitors from eight countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Morocco, Mauritania, Mexico, Pakistan, and Egypt.
Major General Sherif El-Rashidi, representing the Egyptian Minister of Industry and Transport, praised the festival, calling it “a model of Arab cooperation in agricultural development.” Governor of Giza, engineer Adel Said Al-Najjar, emphasized that hosting the event in Bahariya “confirms the region’s central role as a major hub for date production and rural innovation.”
Abdulwahab Al-Bukhari Zayed, the Secretary General of the Khalifa Prize, highlighted the event’s continuous growth since its inception in 2015. He stressed that the festival provides a crucial platform for producers and exporters “to exchange experiences and improve the quality and competitiveness of Arab dates in international markets.”
The program included a product exhibition, cultural performances of local folk arts, and documentaries showcasing the Bahariya oasis and the 18-year history of the Khalifa Prize.
The ceremony also recognized excellence in the sector, awarding eight prizes—including recognition for the best farm, best varietal production, and best applied research—with each winner receiving $1,000 and a commemorative plaque.
Now in its eighth year, the Bahariya Festival solidifies Egypt’s standing as a key player in date production and processing while strengthening sustainable agricultural investment and cooperation across the Arab world.
MK/ak/ac/fss/abj/APA