The 20th edition of the Liwa Date Festival, organized by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, continues its activities until July 28. The first day of the festival saw a large turnout from the public and enthusiasts of date palm cultivation, both from within the UAE and abroad. There was also strong attendance from various stakeholders in the date palm sector showcasing important agricultural innovations in this field.
The festival features 23 competitions spread across 11 categories for date palm contests, including Al-Dabbas, Khalas, Farid, Khuneizi, Boum'an, and Shishi, as well as the largest Ajwa. There are also two competitions for the Dhafra and Liwa Elite Dates, two for Farid and Khalas in Al Ain, and seven fruit competitions for categories such as "variety and local lemon, variety and local mango, red and yellow figs, and a basket of home fruits." Additionally, there are three competitions for model farms in "Western Al-Mahdar, Eastern Al-Mahdar, and Dhafra cities," along with a competition for the most beautiful agricultural craft and a contest for the most beautiful heritage model. The total prize pool of the festival exceeds 8 million and 300 thousand dirhams.
The organizing committee has allocated 25 prizes for the Al-Dabbas date contest, with a total value of 446 thousand dirhams. The first-place winner will receive 100 thousand dirhams, the second place 75 thousand dirhams, and the third place 40 thousand dirhams. For the largest Ajwa contest, 15 prizes have been set, amounting to 234 thousand dirhams, with the first-place winner receiving 50 thousand dirhams, the second place 40 thousand dirhams, and the third place 30 thousand dirhams.
In the fruit competitions at the festival, organizers are accepting entries for the mango contest in both local and variety categories, each having ten prizes with a total value of 234 thousand dirhams. The event also features numerous activities and competitions designed for festival visitors, such as daily contests at the main stage, a traditional market, pavilions of national supporting and participating organizations, food trucks, a children's village, and various traditional competitions.
