The Liwa International Festival is an annual event held in late December and early January, timed to coincide with the date harvest season. It is the most animated time to visit this otherwise very quiet corner of the UAE. The festival fills the Liwa area with dune-climbing races (including the famous Tal Moreeb motor challenge), camel competitions, a date market selling dozens of varieties, falconry displays, and traditional crafts.
The date market alone is worth the trip for anyone with a serious interest in Gulf food culture. Dozens of varieties of local dates are on sale, many available nowhere else, and the growers are often happy to talk about the differences in cultivation and flavour. Arrive on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend crowds from Abu Dhabi.