21st Liwa Date Festival to launch on July 14 under patronage of Mansour bin Zayed
16 June 2025 11:30
ABU DHABI (WAM)Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the 21st edition of the Liwa Date Festival will take place from July 14 to 27, in Liwa City, Al Dhafra Region.Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the festival reaffirms its commitment to celebrating one of the UAE's most enduring cultural and agricultural traditions.Coinciding with the UAE's annual date harvest, the festival highlights the central role of palm trees and their produce in Emirati society, recognising them as a cornerstone of the nation's cultural identity.It also promotes the sustainability of the heritage and agricultural sectors, raises awareness of the importance of farming in the UAE, and encourages local date and crop producers. In addition, the festival supports food security efforts and reflects Abu Dhabi's commitment to advancing modern agricultural practices.This year's edition features 24 competitions, including 12 date 'mazayna' contests covering categories such as Dabbas, Khalas, Fard, Khenaizi, Buma'an, Shishi, Zamli, the Largest Date Bunch, the Al Dhafra and Liwa Elite Dates competitions, and the Al Ain Fard and Khalas contests.It also includes seven fruit competitions for various local and mixed varieties of lemons, mangoes, red and yellow figs, and the 'Local Fruits Basket' contest.The festival further features three 'Model Farm' competitions across the Western and Eastern Mahadir (agricultural farms) and Al Dhafra cities, as well as contests for the Most Beautiful Palm Frond Basket and artistic creations made from palm trunks.The total prize value for this year's festival exceeds Dh8.735 million.The festival's organising committee has allocated 25 prizes each for the Dabbas and Khalas Date Mazayna competitions, with a total prize pool of Dh446,000 per competition.The first-place winner in each will receive Dh100,000, the second Dh75,000, and the third Dh40,000. For the Shishi, Buma'an, Khenaizi, Fard, and Zamli categories, 15 prizes are offered in each, with Dh367,000 in total prize money per contest and the same top-tier awards of Dh100,000, Dh75,000, and Dh40,000. Specific to Al Ain farms, the Fard Dates Competition offers 15 prizes, with its top three winners receiving Dh100,000, Dh75,000, and Dh40,000, respectively.Similarly, the Khalas Dates Competition for Al Ain farms features 25 prizes, with the same prize amounts awarded to its top three winners.The Liwa and Al Dhafra Elite Dates Competitions each feature 15 prizes.In the Al Dhafra Elite Dates Competition, the first-place winner will receive Dh200,000, the second Dh150,000, and the third Dh100,000, with the total prize pool exceeding Dh700,000.In the Liwa Elite Dates Competition, the top three prizes are Dh125,000, Dh100,000, and Dh60,000, respectively, bringing the total prize value to over Dh500,000.The Largest Bunch of Dates Competition has a prize pool of Dh234,000 distributed among 15 winners, with Dh50,000 for first place, Dh40,000 for second, and Dh30,000 for third.In the fruit category, the Mango Competition features two subcategories: local and mixed varieties. Each subcategory offers ten prizes, with a combined prize pool of Dh234,000.In the Lemon Competition (local and mixed varieties) and the Fig Competition (red and yellow varieties), the festival has allocated 10 prizes for each category, with a total value of Dh117,000 per category.Complementing these is the Local Fruit Basket Competition, which offers a prize pool of Dh400,000, with Dh200,000 awarded to the first-place winner, Dh120,000 to the second, and Dh80,000 to the third.For the Model Farm Competition, which covers the Liwa Western Farms, Liwa Eastern Farms, and Al Dhafra Cities categories, each category carries a prize pool of Dh750,000. The first-place winner in each will receive Dh300,000, second place Dh180,000, and third Dh120,000.The festival has also allocated 10 prizes for the Most Beautiful Date Basket Competition, which aims to revive traditional handicrafts using eco-friendly natural materials. Additionally, 10 prizes have been designated for the Palm Trunk Creativity Competition, which encourages the recycling of palm trunks into artistic creations.Beyond the competitions, the festival presents a diverse programme of heritage events, daily activities, and cultural initiatives that preserve the legacy of the date palm as a symbol of the UAE's rich heritage and ongoing prosperity. It also promotes family and community ties, encourages intergenerational engagement, and reinforces values of cooperation and belonging, reflecting the spirit of the UAE's 'Year of the Community.'The festival also serves as a key platform for supporting the local community and productive families in the region through its traditional market, which includes stalls selling fresh dates and date-based products, mobile cafés, agricultural factories, plant nurseries, and pavilions representing sponsoring and participating organisations. Daily stage activities include interactive quizzes with prizes, live folkloric performances, lectures, seminars, and a variety of cultural evenings.Bringing together farmers, experts, industry leaders, companies, and research centres, the festival serves as a collaborative hub to support the agricultural sector and promote its long-term sustainability.
It also plays a key role in boosting the Al Dhafra Region's economy through a diverse program that draws thousands of visitors each year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
UAE participates in Beijing International Book Fair 2025
19 June 2025 23:17 ABU DHABI (WAM) The Ministry of Culture (MoC) is participating in the 31st edition of the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), taking place in the Chinese capital from June 18 to 22, 2025. The UAE's presence reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing global cultural dialogue and deepening its strategic partnership with the People's Republic of participation comes as part of the national pavilion 'UAE Pavilion', inaugurated in the presence of Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to China; Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture; Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre; and Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers event saw wide participation from federal and local government entities, academic institutions, and Emirati publishing houses, aiming to showcase facets of the UAE's creative landscape and deepen cultural and intellectual exchange with the People's Republic of UAE programme features a rich array of activities, including literary panels, traditional performances, children's reading and art workshops, and curated displays of Emirati publications. Visitors also learn about major national initiatives such as the Golden Visa recommendation service for creatives, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, the 'Kalimah' translation project, and grant programs supporting publishing and translation. These efforts underscore the Ministry's strategic investment in intellectual and cultural development.A dedicated Emirati Chinese Archive within the pavilion celebrates the longstanding historical and cultural ties between the two nations, showcasing key moments of cooperation in publishing, translation, and the creative on the UAE's participation, Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, states: 'Our presence at the Beijing International Book Fair affirms the UAE's commitment to fostering cultural connectivity and creating meaningful international partnerships, particularly in Asia. Culture is a vital strategic bridge that promotes understanding, mutual respect, and collaboration between peoples.'He adds: 'We believe that supporting publishers and creatives is an investment in the future of knowledge and in building a well-read, culturally aware, and globally connected society. With this vision in mind, the Ministry of Culture has empowered writers through the National Grant Program for Culture and Creativity. To date, the program has supported more than 30 Emirati creatives in the fields of authorship and publishing, including books, magazines, and digital media. This reflects the Ministry's broader commitment to sustaining and advancing local cultural production. Recognised as one of the world's premier literary events, the Beijing International Book Fair draws thousands of publishers, authors, and cultural professionals from across the globe. The event features a broad program of professional and public events, including the Chinese Book Award Ceremony, PubTech Conference, Artistic Publishing Forum, World Children's Book Forum, and Beijing International Illustration Forum, alongside specialised exhibitions such as the Beijing Picture Book Fair, International Art Book Fair, and Cookbook Fair.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
Abdulla Al Hamed meets Prince of Netherlands, Cannes official ahead of BRIDGE Summit in Abu Dhabi
19 June 2025 19:51 CANNES (WAM)Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office (NMO) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Media Council, met Constantijn Christof Frederik Aschwin, Prince of the Netherlands, Honorary President of the World Press Photo Foundation, and Jean-Michel Arnaud, President of le Palais des Festivals and Deputy Mayor for Culture in the city of Cannes, during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in meeting was attended by Dr. Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Director-General of the National Media discussions formed part of the preparations for the BRIDGE Summit, which will be held in Abu Dhabi this December. Al Hamed said the summit will serve as a strategic platform to forge effective media partnerships, exchange successful expertise and develop innovative working models that advance the sector while promoting constructive dialogue and social Hamed and Prince Constantijn explored prospects for joint cooperation and strategic partnerships that enhance the media's role in supporting humanitarian values and advancing global initiatives in journalism, visual storytelling and cultural Hamed invited the prince to participate in the summit, emphasising the value of contributions from leading institutions such as World Press Photo Foundation in shaping conversations on the future of media and the power of imagery to foster intercultural a separate meeting, Al Hamed and Jean-Michel Arnaud discussed collaboration between the Cannes Lions Festival and the BRIDGE Summit to develop talent in cinema and drama through training programmes and knowledge exchange with international experts. They also reviewed the pivotal role of cities in strengthening the creative economy by hosting major global events and building integrated ecosystems that attract talent, investment and innovation.
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
Emirati folk arts captivate audience at Beijing International Book Fair
19 June 2025 11:50 BEIJING (WAM) The United Arab Emirates House pavilion is drawing strong visitor engagement at the Beijing International Book Fair, presenting Emirati heritage through cultural and traditional part of the Fair's accompanying activities, the Al Ayala band presented live performances that showcased the authenticity of Emirati folk arts and traditional Arab customs, fostering an atmosphere of cultural events aim to promote greater interest in Emirati literature, culture, and heritage, in support of the broader efforts of the UAE pavilion at the pavilion also showcases a diverse collection of publications that contribute to strengthening cooperation with China's publishing industry, while opening new avenues for effective partnerships across the country's cultural and creative initiative underscores the role of intellectual and literary exchange, alongside folk arts, as a bridge for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. The 31st Beijing International Book Fair, which opened on Wednesday at the China National Convention Centre, will continue until June 22.
