Abu Dhabi: Carve palm trunks into art, win prizes at Liwa Festival

Abu Dhabi: As part of the 21^st edition of the Liwa Date Festival, set to take place from July 14 to 27 in Liwa, Al Dhafra Region, the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority has announced a new creative competition titled ‘Artistry from the Palm Trunk’.
The competition encourages innovative recycling of palm tree trunks to create artistic pieces that embody sustainable values by blending artistic expression with environmental awareness. The initiative celebrates the palm tree – central to Emirati culture and heritage – highlighting its significance during the date harvest season and its role in the national identity. It aims to promote sustainability in the heritage and agricultural sectors.

Open exclusively to UAE citizens, the competition offers valuable prizes to winners. Participants are required to hand-carve sculptures from palm trunks using simple tools, drawing inspiration from the rich Emirati heritage and the surrounding environment – whether modern or traditional buildings, forts, or castles found in Abu Dhabi or other parts of the country. However, carving representations of living beings or people is prohibited. Each contestant may submit only one entry.

The finished pieces must be delivered to the festival site on July 13 – a day before the official opening.
Participants must pre-register via the festival’s official app. Entries will be judged based on a range of criteria, including aesthetic appeal, proportion and harmony, carving depth and detail, thematic connection to Emirati heritage and local environments, and the quality of the raw material – specifically, the hardness and pest-free condition of the trunk and its dryness. Entries must measure between 35 and 75 cm in height.

In a parallel initiative, the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Academy, with support from the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, has launched the ‘Nokhatha Abu Dhabi’ program, set to begin on June 30 and run for two months. The programme will engage more than 200 participants, including sailors and sailing enthusiasts, aiming to instil a deeper connection with the UAE’s maritime heritage.

The programme is designed to spread awareness of traditional sailing among the younger generation by training them in the essential skills of sailing and dhow navigation. It will prepare participants to compete in 22-foot traditional dhow sailing races.

In addition to skill development, the programme includes talent identification through specialised teams that will assess and mentor participants. Selected individuals will be prepared for future competition in the 43- and 60-foot dhow categories, ensuring the preservation and continuity of traditional maritime sports in the UAE. Training sessions will be held weekly on the shores of the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club under the guidance of expert instructors.