The Liwa Moreeb Dune Festival also known as Liwa International Festival[1][2][3] is an annual motorsports festival featuring car and the other for bikes uphill drag racing [4] vehicles taking part in a Dune (Moreeb Dune)[5][6] and other events, held in Liwa Oasis, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,[7] in late December or early February.
 Sand Drag Bike Race Winners - Liwa International Festival 2023 | |
| Location | Liwa, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UST |
| Owner | Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority |
| Opened | 2004 |
| Major events | Liwa International Festival |
About
edit
Liwa International Festival includes a number of sporting and Motorsport competitions that attract participation from international motorsport professionals. The festival also includes Liwa Village activities, including cultural, heritage and artistic activities as well as live entertainment and music. Its races and championships cover motorsports[8] and traditional sports including speed, drag and show races. The festival begins with a car parade, and concludes with the Moreeb Hill Climbing Championship, which is considered one of the most prominent annual events at the festival,[9] which culminates in a concert and fireworks display on New Year's Eve.[10][11]
History
editIn 2001 local Emiratis started competing together and climbing the dunes with their bikes and cars. At that time the challenge was to reach the highest point on the dune. These motivated Emiratis saw the enormous potential of planning a festival that would honor their passion for motorsports while showcasing the distinctive beauty of the sand of Moreeb Dune. They planned a race that would be thrilling, adventurous, drawing inspiration from traditional racing competitions and the Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi region's challenging sand dunes. In 2004, the Government of Abu Dhabi approved and officially announced the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Motors Club (later changed to Liwa Sport Club). After which the first-ever Liwa International Festival officially started with the proper permissions in place, attracting competitors from all over the world who were ready to take on the heart-pounding challenge of racing up the massive sand dunes. Uphill racing, usually referred to as hill climbing, is the practice of racing up high inclines, in this instance, the steep slopes would be the enormous sand dunes of Liwa.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Liwa International Festival to attract over 1700 athletes".
- ^ "Dates for Liwa International Festival 2024 revealed | Time Out Abu Dhabi". 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Honouring Gulf traditions: 'Liwa Moreeb Dune fest' begins amid heat and sand". Hindustan Times. 4 January 2017.
- ^ Alawlaqi, Ahmed Waqqas. "300m-high dune, drifting: How UAE's Liwa festival has become a playground for giant four-wheelers". Khaleej Times.
- ^ "Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed visits Liwa Tal Moreeb Festival". sharjah24.ae.
- ^ Dajani, Haneen. "Pedal to the metal: spectators enjoy thrilling Liwa dune bashing festival". The National.
- ^ "The Liwa 2018 Moreeb Dune Festival in Abu Dhabi". Arab News. 2 January 2018.
- ^ Martin, Kara. "The Liwa International Festival finale revs into gear - Sport360 News". sport360.com.
- ^ "In pictures: Abu Dhabi's 2019 Liwa Moreeb Dune Festival - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". www.arabianbusiness.com. 2 January 2019.
- ^ Dhanjal, Meher. "Like drifting? Where to legally, safely practise the sport". Khaleej Times.
- ^ "Watch: How Abu Dhabi Police ensure safety at off-road Liwa International Festival". gulfnews.com. 30 December 2023.
- ^ National, The. "Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed visits Liwa International Festival". The National.