ABU DHABI // The annual Liwa Date Festival begins tomorrow with a promise from its director Obaid Khalfan al Mazrouei that this year's celebration will be the biggest and best yet.
The approximately 43,000 square metres of tents erected on the site include a farmer's market of 140 stalls. The event will also present evenings of poetry, traditional games and a children's theatre.
"The festival this year will be the best, most celebrated and most updated," Mr al Mazrouei said. "We have a new logo, a new website and a tent for children."
The market stalls will be run by local families, and Mr al Mazrouei said he hoped the event would encourage date farmers in the area to continue their trade.
"We opened the ratb [date] market for selling farmers' products directly to visitors to encourage our citizens and farmers and make way for greater participation," he said.
Visitors to the 10-day event will be able to sample the many varieties of date. From 8am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm each day, visitors will also be able to watch the judging of dates in such categories as the general hygiene of the farms, care for the palm trees, methods of irrigation, and, of course, the taste and appearance of the fruit.
Entry standards for competitions this year are also higher than in previous years, said Mohammed Khalaf al Mazrouei, the chairman of the supreme committee for the festival and director general of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (Adach).
"Before, any farmer could bring their dates to the festival's competitions, but this year, we are sending inspectors to the farms to see the dates before they come to the event."
aseaman@thenational.ae
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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