During the harvest season in the United Arab Emirates, the Council of Fatwas clarified that zakat on agricultural crops and fruits, including dates, is a religious obligation. This tax must be paid during the harvest if the total weight of the dried crop reaches five asaq, equivalent to 541 kg.
This clarification was made following the issuance of General Fatwa No. (11) of 2026 by the Council. The establishment of the norm was based on a field study that considered the most well-known varieties of dates grown on local farms. During the study, the Council's team used a measuring system similar to the Prophetic measure, as well as scales approved by the Standards and Legislation Sector of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.
The fatwa explained that zakat is obligatory on all palm harvests belonging to an individual, regardless of whether the palms are on a farm, in a house, or on any land owned by them, and regardless of whether the crop is intended for trade, storage, consumption, gifting, or charity. The owner is obliged to pay zakat if the total harvest from their palms reaches the established threshold.
The fatwa specified that the zakat on palms is 10 percent of the entire harvest if it is irrigated through irrigation canals or rain without cost to the owner. However, if irrigation is carried out using wells or requires irrigation costs, the percentage is reduced to 5 percent of the total harvest volume.
The payment of zakat must be made either from the dates themselves or from their monetary equivalent, and it cannot be made while the dates are still fresh and unripe. However, according to the fatwa, if the owner sells their harvest before ripening, they are permitted to pay zakat from its value.
The fatwa divided the situation into two scenarios. The first concerns a company that owns palm farms or acquires palms with fruit before their ripening. In this case, the company is obligated to pay zakat on the fruit according to the irrigation method and the established percentage. If it sells the harvest, it adds its price to its existing cash funds and other goods for trade, and pays zakat on this entire sum on the stipulated zakat date.
The second case relates to a company that does not own palm farms but buys the fruit after ripening or purchases dates after harvest. Such a company is not obliged to pay zakat on the fruit, as its obligation is related to the harvest in the possession of the owner. In this case, the dates are considered goods, valued at market price, added to cash funds and other goods, and zakat is paid on them at a rate of 2.5 percent after one year and reaching the minimum threshold.
The Council urged farm owners and individuals obligated to pay Zakat to comply with the laws and regulations governing the payment of zakat on dates, as well as to meet the approved minimum threshold (Nisab). It emphasized the importance of paying Zakat through the appropriate accredited official bodies of the country. Furthermore, the Council encouraged the use of the services of the General Directorate of Islamic Affairs, Waqf, and Zakat for calculating and paying Zakat through approved channels, including the Directorate's proprietary application.
The Council invited those who wish to receive consultation on Sharia rulings regarding the zakat on dates to contact it and utilize the fatwa services available 24/7 via the website and proprietary application to receive reliable answers from Sharia specialists at the Council.
Dubai residents will be able to receive gardening services starting this September through the Careem app, thanks to the launch of the new 'Al Freej Gardener' initiative. This initiative was announced on August 2 and will provide residents access to qualified and licensed specialists through a single regulated platform, while simultaneously strengthening safety and security standards in all areas of Dubai.
This program is the result of cooperation between the Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs together with Careem. The initiative will regulate requests for gardening services in residential areas through specialized agricultural service companies that offer service packages.
The range of services provided includes home garden care, regular maintenance, installation and upkeep of irrigation systems, as well as agricultural consultations.
Following the launch, the Dubai Police will conduct awareness campaigns and raids in residential areas to raise awareness about relevant preventive measures and procedures. This will support the regulation of gardening services, improve public safety, and create a safe living environment.
Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs will be responsible for providing guidance on visa and permit requirements for gardening specialists to prevent any irregular activities and promote compliance with the law.
The Dubai Municipality, for its part, will ensure that sustainable gardening methods are observed in these areas, utilizing its training and awareness programs.
The Careem platform will require participating gardeners and service providers to comply with applicable laws and regulations. It will also support raising awareness of relevant safety and security requirements, encouraging the adoption of regulated digital gardening services.
Throughout the registration and qualification process, the delivery app will coordinate with participating companies to start operating on the digital platform. Furthermore, it will provide customers with the necessary services to ensure a safe, reliable, and accessible customer experience.
Farmers in the United Arab Emirates are preparing for the harvesting, sorting, and preservation of figs as the rutab season begins, following months of intensive work on the farms.
On a family farm in Al Dhafra, Fujairah, farmer Rashid Mohammed Al Attar is observing a season where traditional approaches are increasingly integrated with modern technologies to improve quality, extend shelf life, and preserve the heritage of fig cultivation in the UAE.
The rutab season usually starts in June, when the first semi-ripe figs appear in the markets, peaking in July and August when various varieties are harvested across the country. The exact timing depends on the fig variety, weather conditions, and agricultural practices.
Al Attar explained that preparation for the harvest begins long before the first rutab appears on the palms. He stated that the fig's life cycle starts with flowering, when pollen from male palms is manually transferred to female ones. This is followed by months of care, including pruning palm leaves, thinning bunches, and cleaning trees to ensure healthy growth.
Farmers must monitor the palms year-round, as every stage of development requires special attention—from irrigation and fertilization to protecting the trees from pests and adverse weather conditions.
According to Al Attar, there are many traditional and new fig varieties in Al Dhafra. Among the old local varieties are Sallani, Gal, and Dagma, while traditional varieties such as Ashhal, Kash, and Hamid continue to be cultivated. Among the most well-known types are Bari, distinguished by its bright yellow color and soft texture, and Ihlas, valued for its rich caramel flavor and delicate consistency.
He clarified that not all figs are harvested for the same purpose. Some varieties, including Sallani and Gal, are valued for fresh consumption as rutab because they spoil quickly and are difficult to process into dried figs. Others, like Bari, are naturally sweeter, while some varieties are used primarily for making fig syrup as the fruit ripens.
Harvesting begins when the fruit transitions from the bisr stage—an early ripening phase where figs are still hard and have yellow or red skin—to the soft, fully ripe rutab stage. At the beginning of the season, farmers collect small batches as the fruits gradually ripen, before moving to larger harvests during the peak season.
Al Attar noted that humidity remains one of the main challenges for producers, as excessive moisture can reduce fig quality. However, the hot, dry climate of the Persian Gulf plays a key role in fruit ripening and developing its characteristic sweetness. Maintaining quality requires several stages of careful sorting—from harvest to drying, packaging, and final distribution.
In the past, farmers used traditional drying grounds known as Al-Mastakh, open areas where figs were spread out under the sun for natural drying. These areas were traditionally made from hand-woven palm leaves.
Today, many farms use plastic packaging, packing machines, and modern polycarbonate drying rooms, where controlled heat and ventilation promote quick drying while protecting the figs from dust and insects. In addition to traditional methods, the Al Attar family has also implemented modern preservation techniques. In recent years, they have successfully adopted deep freezing technology to preserve selected varieties, such as Bari and Kenaisi, which helps extend shelf life while maintaining quality and increasing the value of the harvest.
Al Attar reported that the current rutab season has been particularly productive. He attributes the abundant harvest to strong rainfall in the region over the last two years, which promoted stronger palm growth and increased yields. Some trees yielded such a rich harvest that the family had to thin the fruit to maintain quality. Although farmers across the UAE follow similar care cycles, each region has its own varieties and challenges.
Said Halfan Salem Al Mazroui, a farmer from Wadi Al Helo in Sharjah, stated that work begins as early as February and March with the start of the flowering season. He emphasized that from the beginning of the season, they focus on selecting the best cuttings, pollinating the palms, and caring for the trees until harvest, which includes thinning fruit and bunches, constant monitoring, and providing necessary care for a good yield.
He explained that the palm must be maintained year-round through proper fertilization, soil care, and irrigation, as every growth stage requires different attention. Al Mazroui added that the appearance of rutab varies depending on the palm type: some varieties bear fruit early in the season, others in the middle or closer to the end. Every stage, from flowering to ripening, requires observation, as weather conditions and pests can affect the final yield.
According to Al Mazroui, the UAE palm sector comprises over 40 million trees, and farmers cultivate a wide range of varieties that differ in taste, color, and sugar content. Well-known varieties in the UAE include Ihlas, Bari, Kenaisi, Medjool, Naghal, and Khodri, as well as newer varieties such as Ambera and Helwa Dubai. Farmers face challenges throughout the season, including changing weather conditions and pests such as fig mites, reddish palm weevils, and insects affecting the fruit and trees. He concluded that for Al Mazroui, the rutab season is also a way of preserving a tradition passed down through generations, reflecting the patience and care invested throughout the year.
