Dubai: Emirates Post has issued special stamps on the Liwa Date Festival, the annual event that is held in Abu Dhabi to raise awareness about the cultural, historical and nutritional importance of dates.
The stamps, issued in denominations of AED 1 and AED 5, along with a Souvenir Sheet of AED 15 and First Day Cover of AED 7, are available in all main post offices in the UAE.
The Liwa Date Festival is held annually to raise awareness amongst citizens and expatriates about the value, role and types of dates. Positioned as one of Abu Dhabi’s distinguished heritage events and tourist attractions, the festival also seeks to improve the quality of UAE dates and to make them more competitive globally.
“The date is a classic symbol of Arabian heritage and it is important to highlight its role and benefits to the modern generation,” said Ibrahim Bin Karam, Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Post Group. “Emirates Post is proud to support the goal of the Liwa Date Festival through these stamps which have been designed to artistically bring alive the unique heritage of dates.” Building on the keen interest in dates, first expressed by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE founder and the driving force behind Abu Dhabi’s agricultural drive, the Liwa Date Festival enjoys full support of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces.
The main idea behind the festival is to encourage planting of palm trees and to further consolidate the role traditionally played by dates in the life of UAE people. It introduces date producers to modern agricultural practices and gives them incentives to develop their organic products as a feasible source of income. The festival is also a platform for farmers to exchange experiences and know-how on ideals ways to produce the best types of dates.