ABU DHABI: The third edition of the Liwa Date Festival and Auction, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, commence Friday in Zayed City, Al Dhafra, and will continue until 20th October.
The festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, will welcome the Republic of Iraq as the guest of honour for this edition, with the aim of strengthening ties, exchanging agricultural expertise, and enhancing relations between the two countries in vital sectors.
The event aims to establish itself as one of the foremost international heritage festivals by promoting the production and processing of dates, showcasing the finest varieties, contributing to food security strategies, and encouraging farmers and date producers to improve the quality of their products. It will also serve as a platform for exchanging expertise and research on palm cultivation.
Celebrating the 2024 date harvesting season, the festival will feature 20 competitions with a t
otal of 167 prizes, including nine date competitions, two cooking contests, five honey competitions, and two each for photography and painting.
A daily highlight of the event is the date auction, which is especially beloved by date enthusiasts. The auction will offer visitors the chance to bid on and purchase premium-quality Emirati dates from a wide variety of types.
The festival will also present diverse activities supporting the agricultural sector and the date industry in the UAE, with participation from both government and private entities. These participants will host interactive programmes and awareness platforms for farmers and visitors through daily events.
The festival will feature a traditional market, date and agricultural tools shops, a honey village, a crafts corner, two art exhibitions, the Kenaz Art Studio, an art workshop, and other distinctive areas offering visitors a unique experience, along with a variety of performances by the Abu Dhabi Folklore Group.
Source: Emirates News Agency