The UAE Council for Fatwa has hosted a symposium titled Zakat on Dates: Fatwa-Based Rulings and National Efforts…Civilisational Foresight. The event was held with the participation of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Awqaf, and Zakat, and various national bodies.
The initiative comes as part of the council’s Year of Community programme, in conjunction with the 2025 date-harvest season, and in the context of nationwide efforts aimed at: developing the fatwa issuing system, strengthening integration between religious, economic, and social values, and affirming the UAE’s commitment to incorporating digital solutions and artificial intelligence into the services provided to the community.
The symposium discussed emerging Islamic legal issues concerning the zakat on dates, raise societal awareness of its rulings and values, in addition to highlighting national efforts in agricultural and food sustainability. It also highlighted the regulated governance principles and parameters of fatwa issuance adopted by the council, in a manner that keeps pace with reality and enhances the impact of zakat on development.
A distinguished group of Emirati scholars and academic figures took part in the symposium, together with representatives of relevant national institutions, through a programme addressing the conceptual and maqāṣid-based (higher objectives) vision of zakat on dates, contemporary fatwa issues, as well as institutional efforts and innovative solutions that support the community and serve sustainable development.
Running parallel with the symposium, an accompanying exhibition titled Shamareekh Al-Tamr (Date Clusters) was inaugurated. The exhibition featured six main sections: introducing the heritage and sustainability of the palm tree in the UAE; presenting related Islamic rulings and modern measurement standards, featuring national digital services; highlighting heritage oases and authentic traditions through educational and knowledge-based activities for families and the wider community.
The event concluded with the announcement of practical outcomes, including the issuance of a statement on the Zakat on Dates nisab (minimum threshold or taxable amount) for the year 2025, a fatwa-based product with the most prominent approved rulings and standards, in addition to the production of a national visual production reflecting the societal values connected with the palm tree and dates — embodying the integration of fatwa and national efforts in the UAE.
