Every December, a chunk of Abu Dhabi’s population packs the car, points it west and drives the best part of three hours into the dunes. The reason is Liwa Village, the family festival zone that sits inside the wider Liwa Festival in the Al Dhafra region. Its 2023 edition ran from 8 to 31 December, drew more than 100,000 visitors and closed the year with fireworks and a drone show over the sand. Here is what that edition looked like, so you know what you are signing up for when the next one rolls around.
The 2023 village was organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, with du as the headline partner alongside Wio Bank and EXEED. For the latest edition, see our guide to what to expect at Liwa Village at Moreeb Dune.
The layout: seven zones in the sand
The 2023 site was 20% bigger than the first edition and split into seven zones, each with a clear job:
- Souk: a traditional-style Emirati market with a rooftop that gives you the best view over the whole site.
- Oasis: heritage-meets-modern installations and the prettiest photo backdrops.
- Valley: the quiet, open-sky zone built with sustainable materials, best after dark.
- Pavilion: seating and shade for when you need a breather from the crowds.
- Carnival: the rides and games corner, where most families lost their children for an hour.
- PUBG Mobile: a dedicated gaming zone themed around the battle royale game.
- Main Stage: Arabic concerts every weekend.
The food line-up
Food was the real draw for a lot of visitors, with around 25 homegrown and international concepts on site. The Emirati end of the spectrum covered Harees Al Fareej, Mandi Man, Mumtaz, Dalat AlRayah, Seekh by Slaw and Slaw and More. For something more global there was Ninive, BB Social Dining, Leopardo, Oro Pizzeria, Salt, GOAT, IRDK, Hoka and Mamacita, plus Michelin-recognised Erth. Coffee came courtesy of Cartel Coffee Roasters and Let’s Cafe, and the sweet stuff from Home Bakery, White, Glaze, Jiggly Wiggly, Must, Absolute Zero and Baskin Robbins. Rain and Tryano teamed up on a combined cafe and retail space.
The shopping
Retail pop-ups mixed big names with local labels. Benefit and Michael Kors sat alongside homegrown brands including Khalatat – Blends of Love, FRND of mine, Elevenish, Odela & Co, Carter & White, Feathers, Anfansic Dokhoon, Aytamos, Dukan, IZEL Luxury, OFFEND, MQ Perfumes and The Wicker Haven Accessories. Expect oud, abayas, jewellery and gifting pieces rather than bargains.
The weekend concerts
The Main Stage leaned heavily on Gulf and Arabic stars:
- 9 December: Bandar Bin Oweer and Ghareeb Al Mokhles
- 23 December: Abadi Al Johar, Aryam and Ayed
- 30 December: Ali Bin Mohamad, Diana Haddad and Modi Al Shamrani
- 31 December: Khalid Abdulrahman, Eid Al Menhali and Hamad Al Ameri, followed by the fireworks and drone show at midnight
How it did
Visitor numbers were up 38% on the first edition, which is why the village has come back every winter since. It has grown into one of the few reasons Abu Dhabi residents happily make the long drive to Liwa in December rather than saving it for a once-a-year dune-bashing trip.
WOW Abu Dhabi Expert Tip: The concert nights are when the site is busiest and the roads back to the city are fullest. If you are driving in and out on the same day, pick a non-concert evening, arrive for sunset and you will get the rides, the food and the photos with half the queues.
If a desert weekend appeals but you would rather sleep somewhere with a pool, our look at a desert weekend at Aldhafra Resort covers the nearest proper resort option.
More on this: Liwa Village at Moreeb Dune: Zones, Solar Power and What to Expect | Aldhafra Resort Liwa: What a Desert Weekend Here Actually Includes
