• A group of men try out date juice at the festival.
    A group of men try out date juice at the festival.
  • Organisers survey a selection of dates.
    Organisers survey a selection of dates.
  • The finest produce from the UAE’s date and fruit farms is on display alongside heritage and cultural demonstrations in an air-conditioned tent in the middle of the desert.
    The finest produce from the UAE’s date and fruit farms is on display alongside heritage and cultural demonstrations in an air-conditioned tent in the middle of the desert.
  • Emirati men perform a traditional dance during the first day of the Liwa Date Festival in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi.
    Emirati men perform a traditional dance during the first day of the Liwa Date Festival in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi.
  • Men walk through the traditional souk at the festival.
    Men walk through the traditional souk at the festival.
  • More than 70,000 visitors used to make the trek out to Liwa City in Al Gharbia for events in previous years.
    More than 70,000 visitors used to make the trek out to Liwa City in Al Gharbia for events in previous years.
  • Dates – and for the fifth year, mangoes and lemons, too – will be in competition, with 220 prizes and more than Dh8 million waiting to be awarded.
    Dates – and for the fifth year, mangoes and lemons, too – will be in competition, with 220 prizes and more than Dh8 million waiting to be awarded.
  • Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, deputy chairman of the Cultural Programmes & Heritage Festivals committee, said 22 competitions will be organised during the festival.
    Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, deputy chairman of the Cultural Programmes & Heritage Festivals committee, said 22 competitions will be organised during the festival.
  • Mr Al Mazrouei said event is an opportunity to shed light on the significance of palm trees in the Emirati heritage while tasting some half-ripe Ratab dates.
    Mr Al Mazrouei said event is an opportunity to shed light on the significance of palm trees in the Emirati heritage while tasting some half-ripe Ratab dates.

UAE

Liwa Date Festival gets under way - in pictures

Mark Asquith

July 23, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

The Liwa Date Festival, which got under way on Wednesday, is a celebration of the culture of the UAE and its precious date palm. All photos by Christopher Pike / The National

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