The wait is finally over as The Liwa Date Festival, an annual extravaganza of date-related events, competitions and cultural activities welcome visitors for the first time since 2019.

Held in Liwa, Al Dhafra, this year’s festival runs from July 16 to 24 and will allow members of the public to learn about the most popular varieties of dates grown in the UAE. The festival is one of Abu Dhabi’s most significant heritage events and tourist attractions. It highlights the many ways in which dates have impacted the cultural, heritage and economic life of the country. It provides a great place for visitors to learn about dates and to sample the most popular date varieties grown in the United Arab Emirates

The Liwa Date Festival highlights the important attributes of the date palm. It also features the latest in agricultural practices and facilitates exchange of expertise on the best ways to produce the highest quality dates. The festival’s main event is the competition for the ‘Best Date Fruit’. The selection process for the ‘Best Date Fruit’ competition involves judging thousands of baskets of rutab. (half-ripe dates) There also are date auctions, where dates can sell for more than AED 6,000 per kilo; lectures on date farming; poetry evenings and an exhibition space for farming equipment and date products.

The event is now in its 18th year. It is held under the support of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Its aims include supporting date palm farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture and bolstering food security.

The Liwa Date Festival celebrates an integral symbol of Emirati heritage and this festival is definitely a must visit.