On its first day, the Liwa Date Festival welcomed 3.2 tons of dates as part of its exciting events, reflecting the growing momentum surrounding this cultural celebration. Organized by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the festival, held in Liwa City in the Al Dhafra region, will continue until July 27 and features a variety of competitions and exhibitions highlighting the national agricultural heritage.
Festive Atmosphere and Valuable Prizes
The first day of the Liwa Date Festival witnessed a vibrant festive atmosphere, where Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Festivals and Events Sector at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, crowned the winners of the largest date competition in the presence of several representatives from participating entities, farmers, and festival visitors. The results revealed that Obaid Saeed Naseeb Khamees Al Mazrouei secured first place, surpassing several participants. Meanwhile, the Heirs of Abdullah Hada Abdullah Al Mar claimed second place, and Saif Siyah Salem Tamash Al Mansouri took third place. In terms of prizes, the organizing committee allocated 15 awards for the “Largest Date” competition, with a total value of 234,000 dirhams.
Date Palm Beauty Contest
The Liwa Date Festival also received entries from 53 farms competing in the “Date Palm Beauty Contest,” which has 25 awards with a total value of 446,000 dirhams. The largest date competition recorded participation from 27 farms, with results expected to be announced on Tuesday evening. This large number of entries reflects farmers’ interest in their agricultural heritage and their dedication to maintaining the quality of their produce.
Diverse Activities and Ongoing Competitions
The Liwa Date Festival continues to offer daily activities, having begun accepting entries for the mango competition in the “Local and Variety” categories, which have a total of ten awards valued at 234,000 dirhams for each category. The winner of first place in each category receives 25,000 dirhams, while the second-place winner gets 20,000 dirhams, and the third-place winner receives 15,000 dirhams. This flourishing competition showcases the beauty of fruit diversity and agriculture in the region, making the Liwa Date Festival a unique destination for agriculture and heritage enthusiasts.
With this momentum and the success achieved, the Liwa Date Festival looks forward to continuing its events and attracting visitors and farmers until the end of the month, providing everyone with an opportunity to engage and compete in an atmosphere of excitement and celebration of authentic heritage.