'King of fruits' delights Dubai residents at 'Pakistan Mango Festival'

DUBAI: The king of fruits, mango, and its numerous varieties are attracting local residents to a display at a hotel situated alongside the waters of the Dubai creek.

As one enters the hotel, the sweet aroma of the fruit guides you to the 'Pakistan Mango Festival', where different nationalities living in the Emirates are enjoying the taste of mangoes.

The festival is being organised by the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai and will continue until July 13. Many foreign diplomats from different countries attended the opening session of the festival in Dubai this week.

Speaking with Geo News, Consul General of Pakistan Ahmed Amjad Ali said the purpose of the festival was to introduce the variety of the mangoes to diplomatic circles and residents of Dubai.

Ahmed Amjad Ali delightedly informed that foreign diplomats deputed in the Emirates took a keen interest in the festival.

"Diplomats of more than 30 countries and representatives of 12 business councils participated in the inaugural ceremony and it showed the interest of people in Pakistani mangoes," he added.

He expressed hope that the festival would increase the export of mangoes from Pakistan to the rest of the world.

The Pakistan Consulate in Dubai has organised the mango festival this year after a gap of six years. The last such festival was held in the UAE in 2011.

Ahmad Al-Noor, who was from Saudi Arabia, said: "Pakistani mangoes are quite different from mangoes of the rest of the world."

One Japanese participant termed Pakistani mangoes "the best ones" among the fruits, saying not only the taste but the aroma is also completely unique from other mangoes.

Speaking with Geo News, Pakistan Defense Attache Mohammad Akhtar said diplomats of various countries deployed in the UAE always have eagerly awaited Pakistani mangoes with the start of the summer season.