UAE: Dh10 million prize pool up for grabs at Abu Dhabi honey festival

The Al Wathba Honey Festival officially launched yesterday as one of the flagship events at the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, held at its dedicated pavilion within the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi. The festival features the participation of 100 beekeepers from across the UAE, alongside 60 specialised companies in honey production and beekeeping.


Running until February 9, 2025, the festival aims to support local honey producers and Emirati beekeepers, enhance their expertise, and introduce them to cutting-edge global innovations in honey production. Additionally, it serves to promote Emirati honey products, educate the public on their unique health benefits, and highlight their distinct qualities.


A specialised evaluation committee, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, will assess honey samples submitted for competition. Rigorous laboratory tests will ensure that the honey meets strict quality standards, including purity, absence of foreign substances, wax residues, crystallisation, colour consistency, and the absence of air bubbles.


Strategic platform for local and global growth


Eng. Saeed Al Yamahi, member of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award and Chairman of the Al Wathba Honey Festival, emphasized that the event reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and national food security. He described the festival as a strategic platform that brings together local producers and experts to exchange best practices, build partnerships, and enhance the quality and competitiveness of local honey products on both regional and global levels.



He highlighted the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority’s efforts in improving Emirati honeybee breeds and creating an optimal environment for beekeeping, positioning it as a model for sustainable agricultural development. These initiatives contribute to biodiversity conservation and promote local production.


Al Yamahi further noted that the festival serves to elevate the global status of Emirati honey, leveraging the UAE’s diverse landscapes, which provide ideal conditions for producing high-quality honey. The event also acts as a strategic opportunity to expand marketing and trade channels, supporting the objectives of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award.


Enhancing quality and global market access



Eng. Abdullah Hassan Al Maeeni, Executive Director of the Central Testing Laboratory Sector at the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, affirmed that the Council’s participation is part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance the quality of local products and ensure they meet global standards. He emphasised that advanced honey testing builds consumer confidence and strengthens the reputation of Emirati honey both locally and internationally.


Al Maeeni explained that the Council is continuously developing quality policies and standards within the agricultural sector, with supporting local producers being a priority to advance the agricultural economy and achieve economic diversification in Abu Dhabi.


He also noted that on-site testing services at the festival provide valuable insights to producers, helping improve product quality and enhance competitiveness, thus reinforcing the UAE’s position as a regional hub for honey production.



Comprehensive program of events


With over 60 specialised companies participating, the festival offers a wide variety of workshops and expert-led seminars, covering topics such as queen bee breeding and advanced honey production techniques.


Additionally, the festival features panel discussions and live demonstrations on beekeeping and honey production in the UAE. These events aim to foster growth in the sector, encourage investment in sustainable agriculture and food security, and highlight the importance of biodiversity conservation, particularly through pollination efforts that contribute to ecological balance.



Excellence award


Under the theme “Innovative Farmer and Breeder with a Sustainable Vision,” the third edition of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award honours exceptional farmers and livestock breeders across the UAE, recognising their achievements in strengthening national food security. The award also celebrates productive families, encourages modern agricultural practices, and promotes local production.


One key award category focuses on agricultural innovation, covering both plant and animal sectors. Reflecting its commitment to women’s empowerment, the award introduces a special category for “Outstanding Female Farmer and Breeder”, with two sub-awards: Best Distinguished Farm and Best Distinguished Livestock Breeder.



Prizes worth Dh315,000


The festival includes eight competition categories:


Best Wax Block


Best Crystallized Honey


Best Honeycomb


Best Sidr Honeycomb


Best Samar Honeycomb


Best Liquid Sidr Honey


Best Packaging for Bee Products


Best Liquid Samar Honey


The top five winners in each category will receive cash prizes totaling Dh 315,000, in addition to trophies and honorary awards.



Dh10 million in prizes


The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award offers a total prize pool of Dh10 million, distributed across four main categories and 13 sub-awards, along with 87 competitions held during the Sheikh Zayed Festival.


The award categories include:



Best Farm and Livestock Holding Award, with sub-awards for:

Best Open-Field Farm


Best Greenhouse Farm


Best Fruit Farm


Best Organic Farm


Best Livestock Holding


Outstanding Small-Scale Producers


Beekeepers


Aquaculture Breeders


Commercial Farming Excellence Award, including:

Best Commercial Plant Farm


Best Commercial Livestock Farm


With its wide range of competitions, expert-led discussions, and recognition of excellence, the Al Wathba Honey Festival continues to establish itself as a premier event, driving innovation, sustainability, and growth in the UAE’s honey production and beekeeping industry.