MAYS IBRAHIM (LIWA)


A winter pop-up festival at the Liwa Oasis is introducing visitors to the area’s “hidden gems” through entertainment activities and unique experiences inside the historical Mezaira’a Fort. 



The Liwa Oasis lies at the northern edge of the Empty Quarter - the world’s largest uninterrupted desert. It’s renowned for towering orange-red dunes, and green date palm groves. 



The area is also home to two forts built over a century ago, along with seven others of that era which were reconstructed in the 1980s, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi. 



Its official website states: “These forts reflect the commitment of the tribal groups of the past in protecting their land.”


Sultan Al Mehairbi from Project 02, the company organising the festival, told Aletihad that the Mezaira’a Fort was reconstructed in the 1980s by order of the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.



The fort is characterised by elevated walls and round watchtowers, near which the month-long festival takes place from December 1 until January 1. Al Mehairbi said that the ongoing event features a market, selling products that incorporate motifs and colours, reflecting the character of Liwa. 


The festival also provides visitors with access to a play zone for children and a food and beverage area, in addition to facilitating “unique” experiences for them at the Mezaira’a Fort.



“The goal is to bring the area to life in order to introduce tourists from across the UAE and around the globe to the beauty of Liwa and its myriad hidden gems, with sand dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see,” he said.



Al Mehairbi also explained that what’s unique about this festival is that it features a different theme every year, promising people new experiences each time they come. The theme for this year’s edition is “A Thousand and One Nights in Liwa”, indicating that Liwa has a new story to tell every winter.



“Some parts of the infrastructure of the festival, including the play zone, are kept all year round as a gesture to say thank you and give back to the Liwa community,” he said.