How the Liwa Date Festival keeps Emirati heritage alive
TL;DR:
Liwa Date Festival
2025 takes place between July 14–27 in
Al Dhafra
, highlighting
Emirati
agricultural heritage and food security. It is not just a celebration, it is an emblem of national heritage, economic sustainability, and cultural pride.
AED 8 million+ (INR 18,66,28,080+) in awards are distributed through contests in date production, mango and lemon cultivation, and model farms. The event enables farmers, develops traditional crafts, and supports the
UAE
's larger objectives under the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision. Entering its 21st year, the festival combines tradition with innovation bridging communities around one of the region's oldest irrigated fruits.
Oasis to Opportunity: Why Dates Are Important to Emirati Life
Before skyscrapers and shopping centres came to dominate the UAE horizon, the simple date palm was what supported life. In Liwa, a crescent-shaped oasis along the periphery of the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), date cultivation supported generations of Emiratis for sustenance, shade, materials for construction, and trade.
The oasis was so integral to existence that many of the current ruling families such as the Al Nahyan dynasty claim descent from its groves.
The Liwa Date Festival was established in 2004 to preserve and promote this deeply rooted agricultural heritage. Over the past two decades, it has transformed from a local celebration into a national cultural institution, organised annually under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region.
What's Happening at the 2025 Festival?
Running from 14th to 27th July this year, the event is hosted at the Liwa City exhibition grounds and includes:
24 competition sections covering date varieties such as Dabbas, Khalas, Shishi, Fardh, and Khenaizi
Increased cash awards of more than AED 8 million, encouraging quality and innovation in cultivation
Model farm competitions, whereby growers showcase sustainability techniques and improved irrigation
Fruit competitions for mangoes and lemons, increasing the agricultural scope
Traditional Emirati souks and crafts, including date-based products, weaving, falconry, and pottery
A cultural village, created with the aim of educating children and visitors about Bedouin living
Live auctions, in which top-quality date bunches can sell for thousands of dirhams
It is free, family-oriented and receives more than 100,000 people every year, including farmers, traders, tourists, and dignitaries.
Beyond Celebration: Why the Festival is Significant in 2025
1. National Identity & Cultural Continuity
Dates aren't merely a food item; they are ritual. From Ramadan festivals to weddings, the fruit is at the center of Emirati traditions.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning...
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Click Here
Undo
The festival rekindles those bonds and transmits them to younger generations via workshops, storytelling sessions, and craft showcases.
2. Agricultural Sustainability
The UAE is short of arable land and suffers from high temperatures, but Al Dhafra farmers have come up with adaptable, water-saving agricultural techniques some of which have been showcased in the festival's model farm displays. It also aligns with the National Food Security Strategy 2051, which seeks to decrease import reliance.
3. Economic Empowerment
The festival allows rural farmers to sell premium dates directly, usually to bulk purchasers from the Gulf, Europe, and Southeast Asia. With tourism increasing in Al Dhafra, the festival is also a principal source of revenue for SMEs, food outlets, and transport providers.
Historically, Liwa was not just a date-farming centre, it was the entrance to Abu Dhabi. In the 19th and 18th centuries, caravans rested here before venturing into the desert or to the coast.
Its strategic position made it crucial for trade, particularly in dates, which were in turn bartered for rice, cloth, and tools.
When oil was discovered, numerous Liwa tribes had moved to cities but government attempts to maintain the oasis legacy through this festival have prompted numerous people to go back and re-invest in agriculture.
What the Festival Reveals About the UAE's Future
The Liwa Date Festival is a perfect example of how contemporary countries can retain heritage while looking into the future.
It's a peaceful but potent instrument of diplomacy, internal identity formation, and food security. It demonstrates that even in a high-technology economy, ancient customs are still a foundation.
FAQs
Q. What are the main features of the Liwa Date Festival 2025?
Competition in dates, lemons, and mangoes; model farms; cultural village; artisan souk; auctions; and family activities.
Q. Are dates available for purchase by tourists at the festival?
Yes, indeed.
On-site sales by many retailers, plus auctions offer rare varieties sought after throughout the region.
Q. How does the festival promote sustainability?
By encouraging organic farming, water-saving irrigation, and climate-smart agriculture education.
Q. Are there other festivals such as this one in the UAE?
Yes. Al Dhafra Festival (camel heritage), Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, and Al Ain Traditional Market celebrate other dimensions of UAE identity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Weekly Chinese Horoscope, July 20 to July 26, 2025: 5 zodiacs that need to be cautious
Ox The week might start off okay, but things could feel a bit off-track as the days roll by, Ox. You might find yourself letting go of something a routine, a connection, or even a belief that no longer feels right. It won't be the easiest, especially since you're someone who likes control and stability. But sometimes, the best way forward is by not forcing anything. Pause. Reflect. Trust that what's falling away is making space for something much better. It's tough now, but the shift will make sense later. Tiger Fierce Tiger, your usual bold approach might not vibe well with this week's slower, emotional energy. Without a clear direction, you may dive into things that feel exciting at first but end up draining or disappointing. If you've been ignoring your gut feelings or skipping the deeper questions, now's the time to pause. This week offers real emotional healing but only if you're willing to stop, reflect, and listen to yourself. Choose where you spend your energy wisely, and don't rush decisions. Horse Free-spirited Horse, this week might feel like your wings are being clipped. You could be staring at a mountain of tasks, only to find that progress is slower than expected. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo by Taboola by Taboola Frustration may build when your need for freedom clashes with real-world responsibilities. Instead of resisting the pace, try working with it. Find small ways to bring joy into your routine. The key word here? Patience. Trust that slow doesn't mean stuck it might just be preparing you for a smoother ride ahead. Monkey Clever Monkey, your mind loves action and stimulation, but this week might feel like someone hit the 'pause' button. Boredom or delays could tempt you to jump into drama or distractions just to feel something. But be careful not everything that glitters is worth your time. This isn't the week to juggle a million things or say 'yes' to every invite. Instead, focus on what truly feeds your mind and helps you grow. Clear your mental clutter you'll feel a lot lighter. Goat Gentle Goat, even though you're stronger than people realize, this week might wear you out. There's a lot demanding your time, and not much space to breathe. You'll push through, like always, but be careful not to stretch yourself too thin. Saying 'no' doesn't make you selfish it protects your peace. Let others support you, and don't carry what isn't yours. A few calm, heartwarming moments will show up midweek hold onto them, and make space for more. Discover everything about astrology at Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces . Read your detailed Horoscope Today and Horoscope Tomorrow here.
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Was Mona Lisa based on Leonardo da Vinci's male lover? A brief history of queerness
There's an uncanny resemblance between da Vinci's John the Baptist and his Mona Lisa: Were they modeled after the same person? (Photos: In 1476, a young Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was investigated by the Florentine moral authorities. Someone had anonymously accused him of fornicating with a 17-year-old sex worker. But the charges were dropped because of a lack of evidence. German literary historian Dino Heicker, the author of a book about the history of queerness," says there are contemporary sources that prove Leonardo loved men and was particularly taken with an apprentice 28 years younger than him named Gian Giacomo Caprotti, whom he nicknamed Salai ("little devil"). They lived together for many years. A few years ago, Italian art historians thought they had found proof that the world-famous Mona Lisa was not a depiction of Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of a Florentine merchant, but of Caprotti instead. He modeled for da Vinci several times and researchers say that the resemblance is unmistakable. Additionally, the letters L and S (for Leonardo and Salai) can even be seen in the eyes of the Mona Lisa, as well as the endearing words, "mon salai," which could also be an anagram of "Mona Lisa. " But the Louvre Museum, where the world-famous painting hangs, isn't convinced of the theory? Da Vinci and his companion took their secrets to their graves. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep ResMed Buy Now Undo In 1550, Leonardo's first biographer, Giorgio Vasari, wrote that the painter took "peculiar pleasure" in the beautiful boy, the word "peculiar" functioning as a euphemism for da Vinci's queerness. The biblical city of Sodom as a den of iniquity "When a majority defines what is normal and abnormal and declares a binary gender model to be the norm, this creates a difficult environment for minorities who feel differently," Heiker says. In his book, he lists some of the draconian punishments that were inflicted upon queer, non-binary or transgender people in the past. They were accused of indulging in what was referred to at the time as an "unnatural" lifestyle and at times put in chains, stoned, castrated or even burned at the stake. Those meting the punishment sometimes used the Bible to legitimize their persecution of queer people, especially the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah — these cities were destroyed by God because of "sinful" behavior. The term "sodomy" has also been used as a synonym for homosexuality. This story "provided the blueprint for centuries of stigmatization toward other kinds of people." In 1512, the Spanish conquistador Vasco Nunez de Balboa ordered his dogs to maul Indigenous people in America, accusing them of having committed "the horrible sin of sodomy." Varieties of love in antiquity On the other hand, there were also societies in which many forms of queerness were generally accepted. For example, during antiquity, it was common for men to have a male lover in addition to wives. The Roman emperor Hadrian was so heartbroken by the death of his beloved Antinous that he had him posthumously declared as a god, and erected numerous statues and places of worship to honor the beautiful youth. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) said that lawmakers on the island of Crete had come up with something very special to celebrate new births: pederasty, or "boy love," when an older man took a young man into his home to train him sexually. "Sexual favors were expected from the younger man, but this was not viewed disparagingly by society," explains Dino Heicker. Love between women was also commonplace. On the island of Lesbos, the poet Sappho paid homage to the beauty of the female form in her verses. And models for a variety of different kinds of love were found in the world of the gods — especially Zeus, the father of the gods, and the epitome of queerness. This term did not exist at the time, but he transformed himself into women, animals, and even a cloud in order to have sex with the object of his desire. In ancient times, there was nothing considered wrong with men having sex with other men or boys, "as long as they played the active role," says Heicker. "The penetrated man, i.e. the inferior man, was considered effeminate and was considered socially inferior." In the Roman Empire, people liked to accuse their political opponents of being sexually passive, because "it was a way of tarnishing their honor." A 'crime against nature' The spread of Christianity brought an end to the leniency towards same-sex love. The bishop and Benedictine monk, Petrus Damiani (1006-1072) was one of the most influential clergymen of the 11th century. He railed against fornication, which he saw spreading even in monasteries: "The befouling cancer of sodomy," he wrote, "is, in fact, spreading so through the clergy or rather, like a savage beast, is raging with such shameless abandon through the flock of Christ. " Sodomy, he was convinced, was the result of diabolical whispers. Among the samurai warriors in Japan and at the Chinese imperial court, there was a more relaxed attitude towards queerness; same-sex love was common among men. In 1549, the Jesuit priest Francisco de Xavier noted: "The Buddhist priests constantly commit crimes against nature and do not even deny it. They openly admit it." The LGBTQ+ who's who In later centuries and modern times, various LGBTQ+ figures — including among royalty — achieved fame. Heicker's book lists the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), the Irish writer and playwright Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), the US writer James Baldwin (1924-1987) and also Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, two Irish women who retreated to a remote valley in Wales around 1780 and who were eyed suspiciously as the "Ladies of Llangollen." They were all just trying to find happiness in their own way. The diaries of Anne Lister aka 'Gentleman Jack' The English landowner Anne Lister (1791-1840) left behind a set of diaries that was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2011. "In these 26 volumes, she writes in detail about lesbian sex and her relationship with women," explains Heicker. Lister developed a secret code so that no uninitiated person could read her confessions, which were not deciphered until 1930. In her village, she was often referred to as "Gentleman Jack" but was largely left undisturbed. Lister's writing had a significant influence on the direction of British gender studies and stories about women. The third gender From the Mahu on Tahiti to the Muxes of the Zapotec people in Mexico, the Hijras in South Asia and the Lhamanas of the Zuni culture in north America: for thousands of years, across cultures, people have felt they belonged to the third gender, identifying neither as men nor as women. "There was much greater diversity than the narrow, binary gender model would have us think today," says Heicker. "The Zuni, for example, do not assume that gender is innate, rather they see it as a social construct. " In Germany today, the third gender is referred to as "diverse." "Queer people, especially in Germany, have had to fight for freedoms previous generations could only dream of," says Heicker. "In 1994, Paragraph 175( which criminalized sexual acts between men, Editor's note ) was finally removed from the penal code. Same-sex marriage has been legalized, and sexual discrimination is now an offence. On the other hand, and here comes the big but: these achievements must continuously also be protected, especially in the face of attempts to turn back the clock."
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Kian's Bizarre B&B' host thanks BTS Jin; expresses gratitude for the idol over 'not running away'
During the '4th Blue Dragon Series Awards', popular show host and online personality Kian84 won a number of accolades for his shows and variety prowess. While accepting his awards during the show, he expressed his gratitude to BTS Jin for standing by him in the show. Kian84 wins big at the award show, talks about Jin On July 18, Kian84 ended up winning the award title for 'Best Male Entertainer' for 'Kian's Bizarre B&B'. While accepting the award, the TV show host talked about the challenges he faced while making the show. He even expressed gratitude for BTS Jin, who had joined along as a guest star. During his speech, he thanked the 'echo' singer and talked about how thankful he is that the idol did not run away during filming, making everyone laugh. He shared in his speech that, 'I slept hanging on the wall for a week, and since BTS's Seokjin is a world star, I was worried—what if he ran away while sleeping? But I'm thankful he followed the rules until the end and stayed alive'. Fan reactions to the speech As soon as videos of the host's speech were uploaded on social media platforms, fans started sharing their opinions online. There were mixed reactions online, as some commented how Jin deserved to win the award for everything he did in the show, while others expressed gratitude towards Kian84 for mentioning Jin in his speech so sweetly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo About 'Kian's Bizarre B&B' 'Kian's Bizarre B&B' was an OTT variety show that featured a number of celebrity guests who had to work alongside Kian84 in an unconventional guesthouse. BTS Jin and actress Ji Ye Eun joined the host to manage the guesthouse and take care of everything while tackling everyday challenges as well. The show has already been confirmed for a second season as well, though not many details have been shared with the public.
