Abu Dhabi’s 22nd Liwa Rutab Festival gets underway in Al Dhafra, featuring 295 prizes worth over Dh8 million while celebrating the UAE’s rich date farming heritage.
The UAE’s date harvest season has officially begun with the opening of the 22nd Liwa Rutab Festival in Liwa, Al Dhafra Region. Running from July 14 to July 23, the annual festival is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the festival has become one of the UAE’s leading summer events, bringing together farmers, visitors and heritage enthusiasts to celebrate the country’s agricultural traditions while promoting the importance of date palm cultivation.
Dh8 Million in Prizes Across 23 Competitions
This year’s Liwa Rutab Festival includes 23 competitions offering a total of 295 prizes worth more than Dh8 million. The competitions recognise excellence in local agricultural production and encourage farmers to maintain high standards in cultivating Emirati produce.
The festival features 11 rutab (semi-ripe date) competitions, where entries are judged on quality, size and presentation. It also includes seven fruit competitions covering a range of locally grown produce and three model farm competitions for the Eastern and Western Mahadir of Al Dhafra as well as Al Dhafra cities.
The programme is further complemented by the Best Rutab Basket Competition, which highlights traditional basket-making using natural and environmentally friendly materials, and the Palm Trunk Creativity Competition, recognising artistic works created from recycled palm trunks.
The details of this year’s edition were announced during a press conference held at the Mohammed Khalaf Majlis in Abu Dhabi. The event was attended by Abdullah Mubarak Al Muhairi, Acting Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, together with executive directors, farmers and participants in the annual rutab competitions.
Supporting Agriculture and Emirati Heritage
Speaking at the press conference, Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Festivals and Events Sector, described the Liwa Rutab Festival as one of the UAE’s largest festivals dedicated to rutab. He said the event continues to support local farmers while encouraging agricultural development across the country.
Mubarak Al Qusaili, Director of Rutab Competitions, said the festival serves as an important national platform that motivates farmers to improve production and enhance the quality of Emirati rutab and other agricultural products.
Al Muhairi reaffirmed the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority’s commitment to developing agricultural festivals in line with its vision of supporting the farming sector, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and encouraging innovation. He added that the festival also helps strengthen national identity by connecting younger generations with the UAE’s cultural and agricultural heritage.
More Than a Farming Competition
In addition to the competitions, the Liwa Rutab Festival offers visitors a variety of cultural and family activities. These include a dedicated market for rutab and agricultural products, a traditional heritage market, a handicrafts section showcasing Emirati artisans, folk arts performances and a family corner designed for children and parents.
The festival also hosts awareness lectures and workshops that focus on sustainable farming, food security and the preservation of traditional date palm cultivation techniques passed down through generations. Government entities, private sector partners and strategic sponsors are participating throughout the event, reflecting its importance to the UAE’s agricultural and heritage sectors.
Running until July 23, the Liwa Rutab Festival 2026 is expected to attract strong participation from farmers, residents and visitors from across the Emirates. The festival continues to provide a platform for recognising excellence in date farming while celebrating one of the UAE’s most valued agricultural traditions.