LIWA // The eighth Liwa Date Festival began yesterday, with the finest locally farmed produce on display.
The annual event, organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, runs until Wednesday.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Saeed Al Nahyan toured the festival yesterday as competitions were held in two categories: Dabbas dates and the biggest A'adj dates.
There are also heritage exhibitions and shows, along with a traditional souq at which 300 Emirati families will display and sell their handicrafts, traditional clothes, jewellery, and various products made from palm trees and dates.
This year, the festival also features new research on dates.
For the second year, locally grown mangoes and lemons will also be judged. All produce must have been grown locally, be clean and free from infection and parasites, and of specific weight. Dates must be no more than half ripe.
The condition of the farms on which they were grown will also be considered when awarding the prizes, worth millions of dirhams.
