The 13th edition of the Liwa Date Festival will be held from the 19th to the 29th of July in the city of Liwa in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee announced today.

Over the years, the Liwa Date Festival, which is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, has been an effective platform for the stimulation of economic activity in Al Dhafra region, with the Traditional Market has successfully contributed to the support and promotion of Emirati products.

"The Liwa Date Festival aspires to preserve the Emirati cultural heritage and lure visitors and tourists into exploring the local traditions," said the Director of the Festival and Chairman of the Planning and Projects Department at the Heritage Committee, Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei.

"We have been working towards transforming the palm trees and dates into a symbol of past authenticity, a source of blessing in the present, and a guarantee of prosperity for the future," he added, noting that the festival was hoping to promote and preserve the cultivation of palm trees through supporting and encouraging farmers to secure more quality.

"As the local production has shown significant development, we believe that farmers can obtain better chances of excellence and competition in the UAE and the world," he said.

Running since 2005, the festival has provided full support for Liwa and managed to underscore its geographical, social and cultural prominence.

The latest edition of the festival is expected to feature various competitions, notably the Mazayna (competitions for the best dates, including different types and varieties), Best Lemons and Best Mangoes, the Model Farm Award, the Fruits of the House competition, and the Best Heritage Model competition.

Other activities include the Traditional Market, with the participation of more than 240 Emirati families, the Children’s Village, the Dates’ Market, awareness programmes, and exhibitions by a number of businesses.

It is also expected that the cultural programme of the 13th edition will be marked by the organisation of several seminars, and specialised workshops that are aimed at participants and visitors in general. These workshops and seminars are intended to encourage the adoption of the best technical systems and methods so as to improve date production without resorting to the use of chemical fertilisers.