Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (AL DHAFRA)
Celebrating its 20th edition, the Liwa Date Festival is currently underway in the Liwa area of Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region.
The festival aims to honour the important role of the date palm tree and dates in the UAE’s heritage, in addition to supporting local date farmers along with farmers of other crops.
The festival also showcases traditional activities like mazayna competitions, preserving the traditions of the UAE.
An active participant in the festival, Theyab Al Falahi, Control and Inspection Projects Manager at Al Dhafra Region Municipality, shared insights with Aletihad on the Municipality’s involvement.
“Today, Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region Municipality aims to strengthen community engagement, encourage participation in festivals, and ensure that the infrastructure and overall presentation are optimised to welcome the region’s residents in the best manner possible,” he said.
Al Falahi noted that the Municipality’s booth at this year’s festival showcases its projects and achievements from 2023, as well as upcoming projects. The Municipality is also initiating a series of events and activities to celebrate heritage and promote Emirati customs, traditions, and culture among children and the community as a whole.
A new participant in the festival, Eng. Mouza Almeraikhi, Head of the Al Dhafra Fort (Hosn Al Dhafra) unit, told Aletihad about the fort’s role in preserving heritage and history.
“This marks Al Dhafra Fort’s first involvement in all festivals since its opening in December 2023. The fort hosts a permanent exhibition showcasing Al Dhafra’s history, present, and future,” he said.
Almeraikhi noted that the unit aims to foster Emirati culture and heritage among the younger generations, as well as visitors, through workshops, cultural storytelling, and intangible cultural heritage practices associated with palm tree products.
Yousef Al Mansouri, Supervisor of Tourist Sites at the Department of Tourism Development for the Government of Ajman, told Aletihad that the Emirate is participating in the festival to exchange best practices, leveraging their experience from the Liwa Ajman Dates and Honey Festival held in the emirate.
Longtime festival-goer, Azza Al Qubaisi, an Emirati jewellery artist and sculptor, has showcased her sustainable and traditional artistic creations since the festival’s inception. “Every year, I strive to offer products made from local materials or inspired by the palm tree. As part of this, I have introduced new artistic works, some of which are inspired by environmental themes. For this edition, I chose to exhibit works themed around mangroves, aligning all artworks with the overarching theme of sustainability.”
Al Qubaisi also mentioned her initiative involving the creation of the largest “Burqa’a”, an interactive work of art engaging the community. A Burqa’a is a mask made from unique fabric that is worn to preserve women’s modesty.
Nabeel Alkatheri, of Media and Community Events Management at Zabehaty, a modern Emirati butcher shop delivery service, said that they are participating in the 20th edition of the Liwa Date Festival to introduce their comprehensive services to farm owners and productive families.
The company also aims to promote heritage, cultural events, sustainable development, and food security through their participation, Alkatheri said.
For Emirati date farmer Shamsa Almansoori, the festival is a positive supporter of farmers in terms of advancemnet.
“I am a farmer from the western region of Al Dhafra, where we’ve had a project for 5 years. I have participated in the festival since its inception, contributing differently each time. The festival significantly supports us farmers in terms of productivity,” she told Aletihad. According to Almansoori, this festival is notable for its strong support of farmers, featuring the best date varieties from every Emirate, which promotes farmers’ advancement.
