Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the 22nd Liwa Dates Festival will launch in the city of Liwa, Al Dhafra Region, from 14 to 23 July 2026. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the festival for semi-ripe dates will feature 23 competitions with 295 prizes totaling more than AED8 million.
The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority unveiled details of the new edition at a press conference held at Mohammed Khalaf Majlis in Abu Dhabi. The event was attended by His Excellency Abdullah Mubarak Al Muhairi, Acting Director General of the authority. Also in attendance were senior department executives, members of the press, local farmers, and heritage enthusiasts.
His Excellency Abdullah Mubarak Al Muhairi expressed his appreciation for the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose continued support has enabled the Liwa Rutab Festival to build on 22 consecutive years of success, establishing it as one of the UAE's largest and most prominent date festivals.
Al Muhairi said that celebrating the rutab season is a legacy established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, who elevated the palm tree into a symbol of generosity and development and enshrined it at the heart of Emirati society. That legacy, he noted, has been carried forward as a national commitment by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. This vision has contributed to preserving Emirati heritage and passing it down through generations, while supporting the agricultural sector and enhancing its sustainability in line with the nation’s food security goals.
Al Muhairi reaffirmed Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority's commitment to the ongoing development of its agricultural festivals in line with its longstanding vision of supporting the agricultural sector, encouraging farmers to adopt innovative best practices, and promoting environmental sustainability to ensure continued growth and sustainable development of national resources in accordance with the highest international standards.
His Excellency added that the Liwa Dates Festival, together with the authority's other festivals and programmes, serves as a vital bridge connecting younger generations with their national heritage and strengthening their sense of identity. He also expressed his appreciation to the festival's partners, supporters, and participants, whose continued commitment and engagement have been instrumental to the success of this landmark agricultural event.
His Excellency Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Festivals and Events Sector, praised the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, to launch the Kharayef Al Bayt (Home Harvest) Competition. He said the initiative is designed to strengthen the community's connection with the palm tree by encouraging families to cultivate and care for date palms at home, reinforcing its enduring role as a symbol of generosity and the deep-rooted bond between the Emirati people and their land.
Al Mazrouei noted that the Liwa Dates Festival is among the largest rutab festivals in the country. These encompass 11 rutab variety competitions, seven fruit competitions, three model farm competitions covering the Al Dhafra Eastern and Western Mahadir and Al Dhafra cities, in addition to a best rutab basket competition and a palm trunk art competition.
His Excellency added that the festival will also feature a rutab and agricultural products market, a heritage souk, a traditional crafts area, folk arts performances, a family zone, educational lectures and workshops, as well as booths representing government entities, private sector companies, and strategic partners.
His Excellency Mubarak Al Qusaili, Director of Rutab Competitions, described the Liwa Dates Festival as an important national platform for supporting farmers and encouraging them to develop their production and raise the quality of Emirati dates and agricultural products, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of local produce and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector.
Al Qusaili noted that Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority has established clear standards to ensure fairness and transparency for all participants, including product quality and safety, compliance with technical requirements, and farm assessment against best agricultural practices in the relevant categories. He urged prospective participants to familiarise themselves with the regulations governing each competition and to observe registration and submission deadlines, in the interest of a successful season.
To streamline the registration process, the authority has made online registration available for all competitions through the Falak Al Namoos smart application. The app provides a full suite of services, including registration, application tracking, and access to competition regulations, schedules, results, announcements, and the latest news.
