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In a remarkable recognition of agricultural innovation and cultural contribution, two Thai women have been awarded the prestigious UAE Golden Visa for their efforts in promoting sustainable date palm farming beyond the borders of the Emirates.
The recipients, who own Orawan Farm in Thailand, manage over 5,000 fruit-bearing date palm trees and are known for their creative and educational content on TikTok, which highlights the nutritional benefits of dates. Their work has significantly contributed to increasing global awareness of the fruit and the Emirati heritage it represents.
This honor was presented by Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). The Director General, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, personally met the women during the Dubai Dates Festival, an annual event that celebrates the UAE’s agricultural heritage.
This marks the first time the UAE has awarded the Golden Visa to foreigners for cultivating dates outside the Emirates, acknowledging their role in spreading Emirati values and traditions globally.
According to Thai PBS World, dates are primarily cultivated in provinces like Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and areas of northeastern Thailand, with the yellow Barhi date being especially popular.
The UAE Golden Visa offers a 10-year residency to individuals who make exceptional contributions in areas such as entrepreneurship, science, humanitarian work, and now — sustainable agriculture.
