Importance of date palm trees for UAE

United Arab Emirates situated in western Asia at the northeast end of Arabian Peninsula bordering with Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. UAE is famous for its highest production of date palm. It is sixth largest Dates production country worldwide. Dates Palm has its own importance in UAE as it has been an integral part of their survival in this region for almost 700 years. It has also played a significant role in the foundation and development of UAE civilization. This region is globally known for dates harvesting and farming as seventy percent of world’s dates grow in this region. 

There are 55 species and 160 varieties of dates that grow in UAE. In UAE, there is a count of about 44 million date palm trees and 76,000 tons of date production per year. Date palm, apart from being a livelihood of local population, also has significant religious importance to the people of UAE. UAE is mainly populated with Muslims. Muslims all over the world break their fast with dates during their holy month of fasting “Ramadan”. Before the discovery of oil UAE was only a dessert and the people of UAE were solely dependent on date palms for their survival. Dates as food recourse has natural sugar and most of all, contains the vitamins that are important for human health. Date palm has excellent nutrition values consisting of calories, carbs, fiber, protein, potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron and vitamin B6. Dates are high in antioxidants which help in treating many health issues.

• It is high in fiber which is good for digestive health and helps prevent constipation.
• High disease fighting tendency due to antioxidants.
• Support brain health
• Consumption in the last weeks of pregnancy may lead to easy and natural labor.
• It’s a natural sweetener and can substitute white sugar in many dishes.
• Significant when added to any diet plan.

Instead of being a food resource it has been used for many other reasons in the past and now: 

• The outer layer of the date palm trees is used as firewood 
• The bark of the date palm trees is used to make small flat huts
• Dried leaves of date palm trees is used to make baskets, fans and mats
• Date palm has been used as a cure for illnesses and a pain reliever. 
• Date palm trees leaves is used to make small boats for fishing.

The climate of UAE is also perfectly suitable, which plays important role in the production of date palm. This region has two ecological zones: the coastal region with humid temperature and warm winter months and inland dryer region, both having greater influence on agricultural production. UAE pays significant attention to overall agriculture growth of the country especially through date palm trees. This attention is reflected through a continuous spread of agricultural resources and investments, expansion in size and variety of date production projects, increase in the number of palm trees, widespread use of modern technology and decision making regarding the manufacturing and marketing of date fruits. UAE has also set up large scale date processing plants, and date palm tissue culture laboratories, date palm research and development centers and pest control services. The aim of large scale multiplication and plantation of date palm trees is to stop desertification, increase food source and income for farmers to support life in the country.