Liwa welcomes guests of 9th edition of Liwa Date Festival

Abu Dhabi, July 21, 2013 (WAM) - Under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, the activities of the 9th Liwa Date Festival started on Thursday. Organised by Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi, the event draws huge numbers of people and entities interested in the date industry, and farmers to take part in the various competitions held during the festival. The Date Competition Committee launched the festival's activities yesterday with two date competition categories; "Dabbas" and "The Biggest Adj". Yesterday, H. H. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Saeed bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan visited the festival and expressed his happiness with the excellent organisation, thanking the festival organisers and participants. He also said that the most important thing he saw was the beautiful and correct display of UAE heritage, thanks to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and thanks also the constant follow-up and sponsorship by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Sheikh Tahnoon highlighted the considerable support for these activities which reflect the authenticity of the UAE's heritage. During his visit, he met Dr Ismail Ali Alhosni, Director of the Agricultural Advisory Section at the Farmers Services Centre, and praised the centre's role in raising awareness on the palm tree for its importance to the UAE's economy. Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Festival Director, said that the festival had allocated spacious areas for heritage items and shows, where samples of ancient houses would be displayed, each in the relevant tent, in addition to displaying the traditional items of such houses, not forgetting to enjoy listening to the music bands signing great and beautiful popular songs, in addition to the popular traditional sittings, where folklore stories are to be narrated. He also mentioned that there were 160 shops in the popular souk, selling handcrafted items, traditional clothes and jewellery, as well as items made of palm tree leaves and fronds, by more than 300 UAE local families. ADNOC Company the Platinum sponsor of the festival puts a huge "Mekhrafa" (Container made of palm shoots, used for preserving date fruits and displaying them neatly) in front of its pavilion. Also, ADNOC Company's logo was carried across the festival by dimensional figures. Representatives from Al Dhahra Agricultural Company, the Golden Sponsor of Liwa Date Festival 2013, confirmed their care and keenness to participate in all the sessions and activities of this great event. It offers to provide fertilisers, seeds, green fodder, and agricultural products . They mentioned that the company's stands welcome a huge number of visitors every year, and that their customer base is expanding year after year at the Liwa Date Festival, which motivates and encourages them to take part in this annual event. Al Dhahra Agricultural Company is a group company of AL Ain Holding Group of Companies, with branches in the USA, Spain, Egypt, Namibia, and Pakistan. The 9th edition of the festival is receiving big support and care from the public and private sectors, who participate in promoting the UAE's authentic cultural heritage, in addition to the presence of ADNOC Company and its group of companies, the Golden sponsor Al Dhahra Agricultural Company, Al Fua Palm Tree Development and Growing Company, in addition to partners of festival including the Ruler's Representative in the "Al Gharbya" Western Region, Western Region Municipality, Abu Dhabi Police Headquarters, "Al Gharbya" Western Region Police, Environment Authority in Abu Dhabi, Western Region Development Council, Abu Dhabi Health Authority, Transportation Department, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Abu Dhabi Distribution Company, Waste Management Centre in Abu Dhabi and Farmer Services Centre in Abu Dhabi. – Emirates News Agency, WAM