Liwa Date Festival 2025 draws global crowd, showcases UAE’s date farming legacy

The 21st edition of the Liwa Date Festival has witnessed a significant turnout from both local and international visitors, drawn by the festival’s diverse activities and events that appeal to people of all cultures and age groups.

United by their appreciation for palm trees and their pursuit of the best practices for enhancing date palm cultivation and improving the quality of dates, visitors have turned the festival into a hub where farmers, experts, industry pioneers, companies, and research centers come together with the shared goal of supporting and sustaining the agricultural sector.

Additionally, the festival plays a vital role in stimulating the economy of the Al Dhafra region through its annual programs that attract thousands of visitors.

Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Festivals and Events Sector at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, stated in a media interview that the Liwa Date Festival has evolved beyond being just a traditional competition. It has become a comprehensive agricultural and cultural celebration honoring the palm tree and its products, while contributing to the advancement of the agricultural sector and the date production industry in the UAE. He noted that the positive impact on palm farms, as reported by farm owners, reflects the festival’s growing success over the years.

Al Mazrouei explained that one of the key judging criteria emphasised by the organising committee is the weight of the date fruits. This criterion has significantly influenced the quality of submissions and overall palm farm production. For example, the weight of 50 date fruits now exceeds 700 grams, and 100 fruits weigh more than 1.5 kilograms—compared to the early years of the festival, when 50 fruits weighed less than 300 grams. This demonstrates the festival’s tangible success in achieving its objectives.

He added that weight is just one of many criteria adopted by the committee to meet the festival’s goals. All criteria have contributed to improving product quality and aligning with the festival’s overarching mission.

This year’s edition features 12 dedicated date competitions, covering seven categories: Dabbas, Khalas, Fard, Khenaizi, Buma’an, Shishi, and Zamli. Additionally, there are five more competitions: Largest Bunch, Elite Dates from Dhafra and Liwa, and Fard and Khalas categories for farms in the Al Ain region.

These competitions, totaling 24 across the festival, aim to highlight the significance of palm trees and their fruit, emphasizing their cultural and heritage value as symbols of Emirati national identity.

Al Mazrouei noted that the organising committee ensures clear and consistent standards for all competition categories to support the development of local agricultural products and improve their quality. These standards are regularly reviewed and updated to align with the festival’s objectives.

The number of varieties required to participate in the Elite Liwa Date Competition has been reduced from 15 to 10, and in the Elite Dhafra Date Competition from 20 to 15. A total of Dh397,000 in prizes has been allocated to 15 winners in each competition. The first-place winner receives Dh100,000, second place Dh75,000, and third place Dh40,000—the same prize structure applies to the Shishi, Buma’an, Khenaizi, and Fard categories.

The ‘Dabbas’ competition, which enjoys particular prestige among Liwa farmers, saw fierce competition this year, with over 53 farms participating.

The judging committee announced Ma’alla Ali Morshed Khamis Al Marar as the first-place winner, followed by Saree’a Amer Jadeed Al Mansouri in second place, and Obaid Ali Morshed Al Marar in third.

Other winners included Saif Sayah Salem Al Mansouri (4th), Hamad Ali Morshed Al Marar (5th), Bkheita Ahmed Hamad Al Mansouri (6th), Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al Mansouri (7th), Salama Salem Al Mazrouei (8th), and Hadhram Khamis Al Merrikhi (10th).

Dabbas is one of the most well-known and widely cultivated Emirati date varieties, particularly in the Al Dhafra region (Zayed City and Liwa farms), where it constitutes nearly 50% of cultivated palm varieties and accounts for over 80% of total date production. It is also grown in parts of Ras Al Khaimah. Its fruits mature mid-season, are golden in color, medium-sized, and oval-elongated in shape, with an annual yield ranging between 60 to 70 kilograms.

Both the Dabbas and Khalas competitions feature 25 prizes each, with a total prize pool of Dh446,000 per category. The top three winners receive Dh100,000, Dh75,000, and Dh40,000 respectively.

To enhance the visitor experience, the organising committee of the Liwa International Festival has prioritised comfort and accessibility for guests from within and outside the country. Among the many services and activities offered, free Wi-Fi has been made available at the festival venue.

This initiative allows visitors to stay connected and follow the festival’s wide array of events, programs, and activities, which continue until July 27.

The festival aims to highlight the cultural and social importance of the palm tree and its fruits as a cornerstone of the UAE’s national identity.

It also seeks to promote the sustainability of the agricultural and heritage sectors, raise awareness about the significance of agriculture, support palm and fruit farmers, strengthen local food security, and showcase Abu Dhabi’s efforts in promoting modern farming practices.