Liwa Date Festival And Auction Launches In Al Dhafra With Iraqi Guest Of Honour

The Liwa Date Festival and Auction's third edition began on Friday in Zayed City, Al Dhafra. Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, the event will run until 20th October. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, this year's festival welcomes Iraq as the guest of honour to foster agricultural collaboration and strengthen bilateral ties.

The festival aims to become a leading international heritage event by promoting date production and processing. It highlights top date varieties, supports food security strategies, and encourages farmers to enhance product quality. Additionally, it serves as a platform for sharing knowledge and research on palm cultivation.

This year's festival celebrates the 2024 date harvesting season with 20 competitions offering 167 prizes. These include nine contests for dates, two cooking challenges, five honey competitions, and two each for photography and painting. A daily highlight is the date auction, where enthusiasts can bid on premium Emirati dates.

A diverse range of activities supports the UAE's agricultural sector and date industry during the festival. Both government and private entities participate by hosting interactive programmes and awareness platforms for farmers and visitors through daily events.

The festival features a traditional market with shops selling dates and agricultural tools. Visitors can explore a honey village, crafts corner, two art exhibitions, Kenaz Art Studio, an art workshop, and other unique areas offering a distinctive experience. Performances by the Abu Dhabi Folklore Group add cultural vibrancy to the event.

By welcoming Iraq as a guest of honour, the festival aims to exchange agricultural expertise between nations. This collaboration seeks to enhance relations in vital sectors while showcasing cultural heritage through various activities.

The Liwa Date Festival continues to be an important event for promoting Emirati culture and agriculture. It provides opportunities for participants to engage in meaningful exchanges that contribute to regional development.

With inputs from WAM