SARA ALZAABI (LIWA)

The Liwa Dates Festival has grown from being a harvest celebration to now doubling as a testing ground for innovations in date palm cultivation. This year’s edition — from July 14 until July 23 — showed how heritage and tradition can drive an industry into the future.  

“The festival continues to strengthen its position by encouraging farmers to adopt the latest agricultural practices and scientific methods to improve the quality of dates,” said Rashid Khadem Alremeithi, Director of Agricultural Festivals and Events at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority (ADHA).

It is also at Liwa Dates where farmers and producers are able to engage directly with their customers and investors, he added. By offering that “direct marketing platform”, the event opens new trade and investment channels that ripple through Al Dhafra Region’s economy.

The mission, however, goes beyond one week in Liwa as the event seeks to achieve bigger goals.

“The festival reflects the UAE’s vision by transforming dates from a mere heritage product into a strategic national industry that supports the agricultural sector, the national economy, and the National Food Security Strategy,” Alremeithi said.

Liwa Dates’ success has become a springboard for the UAE’s agricultural events.

Youssef Mansouri, Supervisor of Tourist and Cultural Sites at Ajman’s Department of Tourism, Culture and Media, said the festival gave his team a natural stage to promote the upcoming Ajman Dates and Honey Festival, set for July 30 to August 3.

What makes the Ajman event distinct, he said, is its combination of dates, honey, and citrus competitions under one roof, as most festivals keep dates and honey separate.

“These festivals support citizens while educating farmers by allowing them to compare date varieties, exchange knowledge, and provide productive families with an opportunity to promote and market their products,” Mansouri said.

Community Shows Up
Beyond the palm groves and produce stalls, it’s the people who give the festival its pulse. At the Al Dhafra Region Municipality’s booth in Liwa, visitors of every age can walk up and speak directly to municipal staff.

“The Liwa Dates Festival 2026 provided us with a wonderful opportunity to meet members of the community and listen to their opinions and suggestions directly,” said Ahmed Al Mansouri of the Municipal Presence Centre.

His team organised activities for families, children, youth, senior citizens, and people of determination - and the turnout showed they worked. Heritage events, cultural competitions, awareness workshops, and community meetings drew steady crowds throughout the festival.

Keeping Traditions Alive
For heritage expert Jumaa Al Rumaithi, the festival’s deepest purpose revolves around its ability to pass traditions from one generation to the next.

“I am participating to preserve and share our national heritage. The festival allows us to show younger generations how our ancestors lived and how the palm tree shaped their daily lives,” Al Rumaithi said.

That connection to the past, he added, is what keeps national identity intact. “These festivals keep our heritage alive. They strengthen national identity and ensure that younger generations remain connected to the culture and history of the UAE.”

The palm tree, in his view, earns its place at the centre of Emirati heritage - as it has sustained generations in every aspect of daily life.

“The palm tree is one of the foundations of Emirati heritage. Every part of the palm tree was used by our ancestors, making it an essential part of their lives and livelihoods.”