Liwa Rutab Festival To Return To Al Dhafra With 23 Competitions & AED8 Million In Prizes

Al Dhafra’s biggest date season celebration is back. The Liwa Rutab Festival, now in its 22nd year, will take place in Liwa city from 14 to 23 July, under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Liwa Rutab Festival 2026 Returns To Al Dhafra With AED8 Million In Prizes

Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, this year’s festival features 23 competitions with 295 prizes, totalling more than AED8 million. That includes 11 rutab (semi-ripe date) competitions, seven fruit competitions, three model farm competitions across Al Dhafra’s Eastern and Western Mahadir, plus the Best Rutab Basket Competition and Palm Trunk Creativity Competition.

A new addition this year is the Kharayef Al Bayt, or Home Harvest, competition, which encourages families to grow and care for date palms at home rather than just on farms.

Beyond The Competitions

The festival isn’t just about who grows the best dates. Expect a rutab and agricultural products market, a heritage market, a traditional crafts corner, folk arts performances, a dedicated family corner, and awareness workshops. Government and private sector partners will also have a presence throughout.

Also Read: Liwa Date Festival Returns To Al Dhafra This July With Competitions, Mobile Cafes & More

Why It Matters

Officials describe the festival as a way to connect younger Emiratis with their agricultural heritage while directly supporting local farmers. It’s one of several events the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority runs through the year, and it lands at a time when Al Dhafra’s date harvest is in full swing.

If you’ve already caught Liwa’s winter festival at Tal Moreeb, this one’s a completely different experience, quieter, more heritage-driven, and built entirely around the date palm rather than motorsport and fireworks.

Cover Image Courtesy: Liwa Date Festival/X