ABU DHABI: In honour of World Bee Day, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has reaffirmed its support for Emirati beekeepers by advancing the Emirati honeybee breed and promoting premium local honey production.
Between March and April 2025, ADAFSA bred 2,100 tenth-generation Emirati queen bees. This is part of its long-term breeding initiative that began in 2016, which has so far produced over 18,000 queens. The programme aims to reduce reliance on imported colonies, making UAE’s beekeeping sector more self-sufficient and sustainable.
By the end of 2025, ADAFSA plans to deliver 5,300 tenth-generation queens across spring and autumn seasons. Already, 1,350 queens have been distributed to 39 local beekeepers this year.
To promote local honey varieties like Samar, Sidr, Ghaf, Mangrove, and wildflower, ADAFSA hosted the Al Wathba Honey Festival earlier this year. With 50 participants, eight competitions, and AED439,000 in prizes, the festival spotlighted local talent and product innovation.
Educational efforts included workshops, scientific seminars, and training courses in beekeeping and queen bee breeding, with more planned for October and June 2025. ADAFSA also supported Dubai’s hosting of the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers, the first time the global event took place outside Europe.
Over 100 youth from 40 countries participated, engaging in educational and cultural exchanges to spread awareness about bees and food security.
An educational video and a scientific guide on UAE beekeeping were also released to raise public awareness. In parallel, ADAFSA launched a national honeybee health monitoring project, with findings due in 2026.
