Back for another edition of festivities, this one’s a must-visit event for Abu Dhabi residents.
A celebration of Emirati culture, music, art and adventure, Liwa International Festival is nearly here, taking place from 16 to 31 December. The festival is the largest of its kind in the Middle East and has been a highlight event for the region since its inception in 2004. Activities will continue until the closing day on New Year’s Eve, when a spectacular concert and fireworks will bring this one-of-a-kind desert experience to a close. This year’s festival will be expanding to include the Liwa Village area, which will feature everything from fine dining to adrenaline-packed motorsports.
Part of this two-week event will be the dining area, Gaze, with some of the most popular fine dining restaurants taking over the space for the evening every weekend. Indulgent bites will be paired with specially curated content displayed on the surrounding LED screen walls, thereby creating a multisensory dining experience. Antika will be the first to be hosted by Gaze from 16 to 18 December, bringing diners oriental fusions of Arabic dishes and continuous entertainment. Next up will be the award-winning Zuma, from 23 to 25 December, with contemporary Japanese cuisine taking centre stage. Incidentally, Gaze will be just one of several activations taking place at Liwa Village in the coming weeks.
FuelFest Arabia will cater to the petrolheads, offering a unique blend of automotive excitement mixed with live musical performances. Bringing fans a music festival and car show all in one, it is set to take place from 17 to 18 December, with 2022 marking the first time the epic automotive event will touch down in the UAE. For the uninitiated, FuelFest was created by Cody Walker, brother of the Fast & Furious franchise’s late Paul Walker, with the idea to curate something that would be enjoyable for all automotive enthusiasts. Hosted globally, FuelFest is a celebration of car culture where top modified, exotic, rare, and performance-built cars from all over the world are brought together in a thrilling showcase.
Fans and drivers will also be treated to live drifting and drag racing as the distinctive hum and purr of engines fill the air. To add to the excitement, there will be special guest appearances from stars of the Fast & Furious franchise – Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris – alongside Cody Walker himself. Guests can get up close and personal as they pose for photos and host a live Q&A session during the weekend. Finishing off the weekend in style, guests can also catch all the World Cup football action on a big screen at 7pm, followed by an exclusive concert by Ludacris, who is expected to perform his large repertoire of hit songs such as “Get Back”, “Southern Hospitality”, and “Move”.
Within Liwa Village, music lovers can also catch performances by acclaimed Gulf artists – Eida Al Menhali, Hamad Al Ameri, Khaled Al Mulla, Abadi Al Johar and Mutrif Al Mutref included. The live concerts will be hosted on the main stage, which will also host awards ceremonies for motorsports competition winners. Among the Oasis and Pavilion districts, contemporary Emirati culture and design will be showcased alongside artisanal coffee outlets, while families can look forward to a range of child-friendly activities to keep youngsters of all ages entertained. Featuring entertainment and gaming, a rich programme of entertaining cultural experiences and a dedicated E-Gaming zone will provide amusement for all the family.
Throughout Liwa Village, visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy authentic Emirati cultural experiences and handicrafts alongside regional and international brands, offering a well-rounded retail experience. Meanwhile, under the 300-metre-high Moreeb Dune, modern and traditional sports tournaments, mixed sprints, drag races and shows will continue to thrill attendees. This year, beginning with car showcases, the competition will culminate in the Moreeb Hill Climbing Championship. This exhilarating hill-climbing competition, up the 50-degree face of the dune, attracts increasing numbers of participants each year – and 2022 will be no different.
His Excellency Saleh Mohammed Al Jaziri, Director General of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The Liwa International Festival is a leading model for events that bring together traditional and contemporary sports, with inspiring cultural, heritage and entertainment experiences. We expect an enthusiastic atmosphere that will light up every evening of the festival, with fun and joy and entertainment for all. Everyone has the opportunity to enjoy unforgettable memories at Liwa Village and Moreeb Dune.”
DSCVR: Liwa International Festival, Tal Mor’eb, Liwa, Abu Dhabi. www.liwavillage.ae
