Khorfakkan Mango Festival concludes on high note
SHARIAH (WAM)The Mango Festival concluded yesterday, Sunday, its fourth edition on a high note at Expo Khorfakkan. Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) alongside the Municipal Council of Khorfakkan and Khorfakkan City Municipality, the 3-day extravagansa took place from June 27 to 29, under the theme 'Mango: Our Fruit, Our Wealth'.This year's edition achieved remarkable success, attracting over 20,000 visitors from within and beyond the UAE, a 100% increase in attendance, and generating more than AED1 million in total sales.It featured the participation of more than 40 local farmers and several agriculture and fertilisation companies.Delegations from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Pakistan, and Uganda further highlighted the event's expanding international presence.The festival showcased more than 150 premium mango varieties and provided a unique opportunity for visitors to explore Khorfakkan's and the Eastern Region's leading agricultural outputs.It also attracted strong participation from productive families, along with local, regional, and international exhibitors. Their presence created an ideal platform for networking and knowledge exchange around best practices in mango farming and agribusiness innovation.Khalil Mohammed Al-Mansouri, Director of Expo Khorfakkan, noted that the Mango Festival has solidified its status as one of the UAE's leading agricultural and heritage-themed events.He emphasised its growing role in raising community awareness about the importance of the agricultural sector in achieving sustainable development, ensuring food security, and preserving the UAE's cultural heritage for future generations.Delegates from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Pakistan, and Uganda highlighted that the festival offered valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange among mango farmers. It served as an ideal platform to explore diverse experiences in cultivating mango trees across various environments, as well as methods for improving yield and utilising mangoes in different food industries.
Mohammed Al Darmaki, Head of the Coordination and Follow-Up Committee of the Mango Festival, stated that the committee worked diligently to turn the festival's vision into comprehensive operational plans. He highlighted efforts to streamline participation for farmers and home-based producers while enhancing the overall visitor experience.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Zayed Sustainability Prize sees surge in global participation with 7,761 entries
28 July 2025 18:16 ABU DHABI (WAM) The UAE's Zayed Sustainability Prize, a pioneering global award that has transformed the lives of over 400 million people, has officially closed submissions for its 2026 awards cycle.A total of 7,761 entries from 173 countries were received across the six categories of Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools, reflecting the Prize's continued role in advancing impactful solutions to pressing global in its 17th year, the Prize empowers small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), nonprofit organisations and high schools to develop and scale sustainable innovations that improve lives, especially in vulnerable and underserved clean energy and healthcare access to regenerative agriculture and safe drinking water, this year's submissions reflect a rising focus on technology-powered, community-led models that expand access where it's needed increased by 30% compared to the previous cycle. There was a marked rise in projects that integrate cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, direct air carbon capture, and fintech tools, with grassroots approaches, highlighting how innovation, equity, and long-term impact are converging in meaningful Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director-General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, said, 'The record number of submissions to this year's Prize cycle reflects a growing global commitment to practical, scalable solutions that deliver long-term impact. We saw particularly strong momentum in food systems, where smart technologies are helping boost productivity and resilience. Across all categories, the increased use of AI and other advanced technologies highlights how innovation is being harnessed to drive inclusive, community-led progress. The Zayed Sustainability Prize remains focused on recognising pioneers who deliver measurable impact and advance sustainable development analysis shows that around 85% of all submissions came from the developing and emerging economies, with top contributions from India, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Brazil, and was also high from developed countries like the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, both making it into the top 10 submission Food (1,630) and Climate Action (1,880) categories attracted the highest number of entries, reflecting the global urgency around food security, ecosystem protection, and disaster resilience. These were followed by Health (1,497), Global High Schools (1,070), Water (863), and Energy (821).Submissions to the Health category grew by over 60% this year, with entries focusing on AI-enabled diagnostics, wearable tech, and decentralised care. Many also explored tech-enabled sustainable logistics and improved traceability to strengthen healthcare delivery Food category highlighted advances in precision agriculture and agri-robotics, with smart systems and drones helping farmers boost yields as well as circularity in food Energy, submissions revealed a growing interest in thermal energy storage and advanced low-carbon fuels, and broader energy transformation, including solutions for future-proofing energy systems to meet the growing global demand in the Water category explored innovative ways to expand freshwater access, including atmospheric water generation and low-energy desalination, as well as fintech tools that promote more transparent and equitable Action entries addressed both mitigation and adaptation, featuring nature-based solutions, direct air carbon capture, predictive tools for resilience and disaster preparedness, and community-based conservation grounded in Indigenous submissions in Global High Schools reflected a remarkable surge in youth engagement and commitment to sustainability, with projects ranging from AI-powered climate monitoring and smart irrigation for school farms to low-cost water filtration and tech-based approaches to waste tracking and the close of submissions, the Prize now enters the evaluation stage. All entries will be shortlisted by an independent research and analysis consultancy.A Selection Committee comprised of globally renowned industry experts will then assess the qualified entries and shortlist the candidates. The third and final tier of the evaluation process is the Jury, which will convene in October to unanimously elect the winners in each will be announced at the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony on January 13, 2026, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Each winner in the organisational categories will receive $1 million, while six high schools, representing the world's regions, will be awarded $150,000 each to implement or expand their sustainability projects.
Sharjah 24
3 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Al Dhaid Date Festival uses AI in judging for first time
A showcase of agricultural excellence Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the festival was held from July 23 to 27 at Expo Al Dhaid. It attracted top date producers, palm farmers from across the UAE, 15 agricultural companies, and various government, private sector, and home-based stakeholders. First-of-its-kind innovation in the UAE This is the first time AI has been used in such a context within the UAE, marking a strategic shift toward innovation in the evaluation of agricultural products. The system evaluates quality, size, color, and appearance to enhance transparency and efficiency. Competitions across diverse categories Alongside the flagship Mazaiena Al Rutab, the festival included competitions for local lemons, figs, a children's 'Rutab Al Kharaif Beauty' contest, and a women-only date competition—all judged using the new AI system. Driving agricultural digital transformation The Committee noted that this AI adoption aligns with the festival's digital transformation goals. It aims to modernise evaluation mechanisms and support agricultural innovation across the UAE. Merging heritage with technology The initiative bridges agricultural heritage with cutting-edge technology, highlighting the UAE's leadership in palm cultivation and the diversity of its agricultural output.
Arabian Business
4 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai Chambers launches first family business advisor directory with 56 trusted consultants
The Dubai Centre for Family Businesses has launched the first directory of family business advisors in Dubai, connecting family-owned enterprises with 56 trusted consultants across multiple sectors. The centre, which operates under Dubai Chambers, created the initiative to help family businesses access consultancy services in administrative and operational areas, according to a statement by the Emirates News Agency (WAM). The directory features two categories of advisors: those with practical expertise in advising family enterprises, and certified consultants who completed the Certified Family Business Advisor (CFBA) and Certified Family Wealth Advisor (CFWA) programmes. The centre delivers these programmes in partnership with the Family Firm Institute (FFI). Dubai Chambers launches directory of family business advisors Family businesses can use the platform to identify advisors across management disciplines and sectors including governance framework development for both family and corporate structures, restructuring, succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, mediation, and commercial dispute resolution. Each advisor profile contains their background, certifications related to family business advisory, areas of specialisation, and contact information. The Dubai Centre for Family Businesses launched its Family Business Advisor Certification Programme in 2023 through collaboration with FFI, described as the world's leading organisation for research, education, and thought leadership on family enterprises. The programme provides certifications for advisors whose expertise can enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of family businesses. The certification framework, developed with FFI, aims to create a pool of accredited advisors that family businesses can engage with confidence. The partnership gives family businesses access to resources and publications, plus the opportunity to enrol in FFI's Global Education Network (GEN) certification programmes, which include the CFBA and CFWA programmes.
