![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DQBX5XI7BZG2PK6UQJRAPSPAT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f53070852bef7d5a87fce49a57bbf9a77977da0344dde666d4c17087cdfb0452&width=400&height=225)
Emirati honey traders inspect bees at one of the stalls.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4HMQ67KENRG7ZPVB25JKKOKSUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bac2d40cfd2d0ce8d0e863374bbbe963d3b2f3e68ce94fbe51837e7b1ec913f5&width=400&height=225)
Hatta Honey Festival is an annual event conducted by Dubai Municipality to support bee keepers and honey industry.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YC7STYK57NBHPMDOHJFHOMKAZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=62bf1428e20829520f8eba5f92111ddc7557bb4f27f99f8796f486773b0bc6dc&width=400&height=225)
The five-day Hatta Honey Festival began on December 27 with the participation of 60 Emirati beekeepers. Here in the pic, Ziad Elhadek shows off the produce from AlHor Honey. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y2WJRXGMV5DHPGFAB4NX6NPM2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb18eee418ace8785112508f058ae8a9cc2b1c2ea73acf0fdcabc5a34e3c0bfb&width=400&height=225)
Afghani Faisal Khan from Al Mulook Honey displays fresh honey cakes that are for sale.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C3MDTC3TCVA6HPYLN6MVOB37DM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bbcf1b0c422abd5fba1f12378aaacb1576956fcd9887fbe0867cf5e4c5af1672&width=400&height=225)
A beekeeper's uniform on display at one of the stalls at the Hatta Honey Festival that will end on December 31.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MO5JCYGQCRCBZEHVPGESFNLUIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7cc6cd69f5f051d403e0f418c84f22d1e2bde15e4825ac4e4e0c6c81381787f9&width=400&height=225)
Many honey traders in the UAE import bees from countries like Egypt to produce honey.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I4IBLVH2HJCW7PZYFJ6ADRJ7JQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=54c54da11ad357e6f1fa5477a46b067bca19779f44494daf93c0210e098eb9eb&width=400&height=225)
The Hatta Honey Festival offers visitors a chance to taste different varieties of honey produced in the UAE.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NWQF5PLB3FFWBAZ2I6VK2TRZWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b30a31c57c0ae99875be42f2335a41b51e40eb512099166199933bdd7ec14ea&width=400&height=225)
Sidr, Samar, Mangroves and Flower honey are some of the most popular varieties of honey in the UAE.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q5KV37L2LRHWFEZS2PWZRTZ24A.jpg?smart=true&auth=f4a89418a02777e3d69490491b97c340f6d6be90817812196f40d6a4a8e35b6e&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai Municipality has set up a lab at the Festival to test the purity of honey sold by local producers.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DQBX5XI7BZG2PK6UQJRAPSPAT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f53070852bef7d5a87fce49a57bbf9a77977da0344dde666d4c17087cdfb0452&width=400&height=225)
Emirati honey traders inspect bees at one of the stalls.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4HMQ67KENRG7ZPVB25JKKOKSUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bac2d40cfd2d0ce8d0e863374bbbe963d3b2f3e68ce94fbe51837e7b1ec913f5&width=400&height=225)
Hatta Honey Festival is an annual event conducted by Dubai Municipality to support bee keepers and honey industry.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YC7STYK57NBHPMDOHJFHOMKAZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=62bf1428e20829520f8eba5f92111ddc7557bb4f27f99f8796f486773b0bc6dc&width=400&height=225)
The five-day Hatta Honey Festival began on December 27 with the participation of 60 Emirati beekeepers. Here in the pic, Ziad Elhadek shows off the produce from AlHor Honey. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y2WJRXGMV5DHPGFAB4NX6NPM2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb18eee418ace8785112508f058ae8a9cc2b1c2ea73acf0fdcabc5a34e3c0bfb&width=400&height=225)
Afghani Faisal Khan from Al Mulook Honey displays fresh honey cakes that are for sale.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C3MDTC3TCVA6HPYLN6MVOB37DM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bbcf1b0c422abd5fba1f12378aaacb1576956fcd9887fbe0867cf5e4c5af1672&width=400&height=225)
A beekeeper's uniform on display at one of the stalls at the Hatta Honey Festival that will end on December 31.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MO5JCYGQCRCBZEHVPGESFNLUIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7cc6cd69f5f051d403e0f418c84f22d1e2bde15e4825ac4e4e0c6c81381787f9&width=400&height=225)
Many honey traders in the UAE import bees from countries like Egypt to produce honey.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I4IBLVH2HJCW7PZYFJ6ADRJ7JQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=54c54da11ad357e6f1fa5477a46b067bca19779f44494daf93c0210e098eb9eb&width=400&height=225)
The Hatta Honey Festival offers visitors a chance to taste different varieties of honey produced in the UAE.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NWQF5PLB3FFWBAZ2I6VK2TRZWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b30a31c57c0ae99875be42f2335a41b51e40eb512099166199933bdd7ec14ea&width=400&height=225)
Sidr, Samar, Mangroves and Flower honey are some of the most popular varieties of honey in the UAE.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q5KV37L2LRHWFEZS2PWZRTZ24A.jpg?smart=true&auth=f4a89418a02777e3d69490491b97c340f6d6be90817812196f40d6a4a8e35b6e&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai Municipality has set up a lab at the Festival to test the purity of honey sold by local producers.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DQBX5XI7BZG2PK6UQJRAPSPAT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f53070852bef7d5a87fce49a57bbf9a77977da0344dde666d4c17087cdfb0452&width=400&height=225)
Emirati honey traders inspect bees at one of the stalls.
Emirati beekeepers on climate change, imported bees, and falling honey yields
At the Hatta Honey Festival, traders discuss how imports and global warming put heavy strain on the local bee population
![Anjana Sankar](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F8becce85-0837-41f4-95a0-64d689040fe9.png?smart=true&auth=d572c3b22c4d5cc73f396cc312ccf76a41a875f455500b851a3d808979c58f58&width=70&height=70)
Anjana Sankar
31 December, 2023
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