The festival was inaugurated in the presence of several distinguished guests, including His Excellency Mr. Gines Jaime Ricardo D. Gallaga, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Bahrain; Ms. Shanika Dissanayake, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Bahrain; His Excellency Mr. Ardi Hermawan, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia; His Excellency Mr. Shazryll Zahiran, Ambassador of Malaysia; Mr. Rajiv Kumar Mishra, Counsellor of the Embassy of India; Mr. Muhammed Omarsyah, Head of Economic Affairs, Embassy of Indonesia; Mr. Manachai Watthanawongsarat, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Thailand; Mr. Abdul Rahaman Juma, President of Bahrain India Society; Dr. Nandita Sengupta, Head of IT Department, UCB; and Mr. V.K. Thomas, Chairman of ICRF.
Representing Al Jazira Group were Mr. Abdul Hameed Dawani, Director; Mr. Ahmed Redha Murtadha Dawani, Director; Mr. Ujjal Kumar Mukherjee, Chief Executive Officer; Ms. Najat Ebrahim Ahmed Sanad Alghazal, Group HR & Admin Manager; and Mr. Keith Francis Dias, Country Head – Retail Operations & Imports, along with members of the management team and invited guests.
The festival showcases an impressive collection of 55 varieties of premium mangoes sourced from India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Colombia, offering customers a unique opportunity to experience a wide range of flavors, colors, and aromas from some of the world's finest mango-growing regions.
One of the major highlights of the event was the extensive selection of mango-inspired bakery creations, including freshly prepared mango cakes, pastries, desserts, and other specialty baked products. These unique offerings attracted significant attention from visitors and guests throughout the inauguration.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, a live cooking station demonstrated a variety of delicious dishes prepared using mango as the key ingredient. Visitors enjoyed watching chefs create innovative recipes that showcased the versatility of the fruit in both sweet and savory preparations.
The inauguration ceremony also featured a special cake-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the official opening of the festival and marking the beginning of a week-long celebration dedicated to mango lovers across Bahrain.
Speaking during the event, Al Jazira representatives reaffirmed the company's commitment to bringing the finest international produce and unique shopping experiences to customers, while creating opportunities to celebrate cultural diversity through food.
The Great Mango Football Festival 2026 will continue across all Al Jazira Supermarket outlets throughout Bahrain until 10 June 2026, allowing customers nationwide to enjoy exclusive promotions, premium mango varieties, mango-based delicacies, and exciting festival experiences.
The festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors during its run and further strengthen Al Jazira Supermarket's position as Bahrain's preferred destination for premium fresh produce and international food experiences.