Combating coronavirus: Abu Dhabi to host Liwa Date Festival on July 17-23; no visitors

Abu Dhabi, host, Liwa Date Festival, July 17-23, no visitors

Abu Dhabi - Participants, farmers and staff will undergo Covid-19 tests.

A Staff Reporter

Published: Tue 30 Jun 2020, 3:00 PM

Last updated: Tue 30 Jun 2020, 9:35 PM

A dates festival will be held in Abu Dhabi's Liwa on July 17-23, the emirate's media office announced on Tuesday.

Following the directives of Mohamed bin Zayed, the 16th Liwa Date Festival will be held 17-23 July, with expanded prizes over AED 8M and 4 new awards. The Festival under the patronage of Mansour bin Zayed, celebrates our culture and heritage and supports local agriculture. pic.twitter.com/c2Yf7mCUw7
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The 16th edition of Liwa Date Festival will be closed to visitors. Participants, farmers and staff will undergo Covid-19 tests. Activities will be limited to a date beauty contest and some others related to fruits.
"Comprehensive measures will be in place to protect the health of participants, including Covid-19 tests and special procedures to ensure physical distancing," the Abu Dhabi Media Office tweeted.
Prizes worth up to Dh8 million are up for grabs during the week-long festival. Up to four new awards have been introduced.
The festival is being held as per directives issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
"The festival celebrates our culture and heritage and supports local agriculture," the media office said.
The annual festival usually hosts various Emirati heritage activities, competitions and auctions. It offers a platform for farmers to showcase the fruits of their toil. It is an opportunity for visitors to learn about the significance of palm trees in Emirati heritage while tasting some half-ripe Ratab dates.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com