Abu Dhabi date festivals draw 180,000 visitors and 1,500 farmers
The three festivals featured 60 competitions for dates, fruits, model farms and crafts
The Rutb Season 2026, organized by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority through three consecutive festivals in Liwa, Al Ain and Al Wathba from July 14 to August 9, 2026, has concluded.
The festivals served as comprehensive platforms celebrating the UAE’s agricultural heritage and showcasing the diversity of date palm varieties and locally grown fruits for which the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is renowned.
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The organization of these festivals builds on the legacy of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who attached great importance to agriculture and the date palm, while promoting the principles of sustainability, natural resource conservation and support for farmers. Abu Dhabi continues to build on this legacy through initiatives that strengthen local agricultural production and pass on date-palm-related knowledge and expertise to future generations.
Liwa, Al Ain and Al Wathba: Three date festivals in 2026
The Rutb Season 2026 comprised the 22nd edition of the Liwa Date Festival, the inaugural Al Ain Date Festival and the inaugural Al Wathba Date Festival. Together, the three events supported farmers and producers, enhanced the quality of local produce, and encouraged the adoption of best agricultural practices and modern farming techniques.
These efforts contribute to the sustainability of the agricultural sector, support the UAE’s food security system and reinforce the date palm’s position as one of the most prominent symbols of national identity and agricultural heritage in the UAE.
The three festivals featured around 60 competitions covering dates, fruits, model farms and traditional crafts. They offered 780 prizes with a total value exceeding Dh19 million, attracting more than 1,500 farmers and around 180,000 visitors from across the UAE and the Gulf region. The competitions received more than 18 tonnes of dates and fruits produced by local farms.
80,000 visitors, 465 farmers and 23 competitions at Liwa Date Festival
The Rutb Season opened with the 22nd Liwa Date Festival, which attracted around 80,000 visitors and saw more than 465 farmers compete across 23 competitions. Participants presented around eight tonnes of dates and fruits.
The Date Market featured 97 shops selling dates, palm offshoots and agricultural products, in addition to 68 shops at the Heritage Market.
The season then continued in Al Ain with the inaugural Al Ain Date Festival, which brought together 621 contestants across 19 competitions and attracted 74,599 visitors. Participating farmers presented more than five tonnes of dates, along with 585kg of fruits.
The Date Market featured 84 shops offering various varieties of dates produced in the UAE, while the Heritage Market included an additional 76 shops.
The season concluded with the inaugural Al Wathba Date Festival, which saw 448 contestants participate in 18 competitions and attracted more than 25,000 visitors. The participating dates and fruits exceeded 4.3 tonnes.
The festival provided farmers with additional opportunities to showcase and market their produce through a Date Market featuring 60 shops.
Beyond their agricultural and economic role, the date festivals served as community spaces for passing on the UAE’s heritage associated with the date palm to future generations through heritage markets, traditional crafts programmes, folk-art performances and a wide range of interactive activities.
Unwavering support for farmers and producers
Supporting farmers and producers was a central pillar of the Rutb Season. The festivals provided extensive opportunities to showcase local produce, exchange expertise and improve fruit quality, while also supporting small agricultural enterprises and productive families.
These efforts help enhance the economic value of locally produced agricultural products and connect agricultural heritage with sustainable production practices.
The festivals reflect Abu Dhabi’s continued efforts to combine the preservation of agricultural heritage with the development of modern farming practices. They strengthen the date palm’s presence within the community, support local farmers and producers, contribute to the sustainability of the agricultural sector and reinforce the UAE’s food security system, while preserving the values and knowledge that have formed an integral part of the Emirati people’s relationship with their land and date palms across generations.
