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Emirati traditions

The Date Palm

The date palm is an evergreen that grows in desert oases, its roots reaching deep for moisture. For centuries it has been a key source of food and of crafts made from its leaves, fronds and fibres. The current UNESCO listing, dated 2022, covers 15 countries.

Updated October 2026 · Facts checked 22 October 2026

Year on the UNESCO list
20221
Year on the UNESCO list
Countries on the listing
151
Countries on the listing

The Date Palm

At a glance

At a glance
Item Detail
Name in Arabic النخلة
UNESCO list Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Year on the list 2022
Listed by 15 Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates

Source: UNESCO: Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices1

What the listing covers

  • Caring for and growing the date palm
  • Crafts using the leaves, fronds and fibres
  • Social rituals, poetry and songs about the palm

Source: UNESCO: Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices1

Today

Local communities and government agencies support the date palm, and its cultivation and the regional workforce around it have grown.1

Dates are traditionally served with Arabic coffee when guests are welcomed.2

Sources

  1. UNESCO: Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices
  2. Visit Abu Dhabi: Emirati food and coffee culture
  3. UNESCO: United Arab Emirates, elements on the Intangible Cultural Heritage lists

Facts checked 22 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information.

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