Contributed by Lekha Menon, Journalist | Writer
Picture this: on a dark winter night, four hours away from Dubai, a vast stretch of desert spanning the UAE and Saudi Arabia comes alive with lights, music and cars — lots of cars. All-terrain vehicles zip and zoom across the Moreeb dunes, the air thick with the roar of engines and the ambiance, electric with the energy of motorheads who just can’t get enough. The high-octane action thrills spectators, especially those who prefer a ringside view with a cup of karak rather than risking their lives inside one of those speed monsters. Simply being on the sidelines and cheering the adventurers on (as we did) is a lot of fun as it’s easy to forget, for those few hours, that you’re standing in the middle of nowhere, and that a few weeks later the area will return to the serene silence of the sands. Yet for as long as it lasts, the Liwa International Festival is both a literal and metaphorical oasis, celebrating speed, culture and a shared spirit of community.
The desert festival started way back in 2014 but over the years, it has become bigger and better drawing visitors from the UAE and beyond. 2025-26’s edition started on December 12 and will continue until 3 January at the Al Dhafra region. And let’s just put it this way, one visit isn’t enough to experience all that the festival has to offer. With adventure activities, speed challenges, live music, cultural and entertainment activities, there are plenty of things to look forward to. There are expanded sports categories, camping zones for enthusiasts to stay put at the venue, smash rooms, and nightly fireworks and drone shows. You can book luxury tents, stay in local accommodations, or camp in the Al Dhafra Desert – whatever you choose, it is bound to be unforgettable.
Here are six highlights we recommend:
The Liwa Village
Liwa Village, with its six zones, serves as the festival’s lively cultural hub, bringing together live concerts, family-friendly attractions, restaurant pop-ups and traditional Emirati activities. You can enjoy everything from a giant Ferris wheel and zipline to heritage experiences, retail stalls and relaxed outdoor seating areas. Frankly, many of the attractions may feel familiar to Dubai visitors – after all haven’t we been to Global Village and the likes? But it’s the desert setting and laid-back atmosphere that give Liwa Village a distinctive charm, making it an easy, enjoyable choice for a family day out.
Petting Zoo and Pony Grove
Nestled in a corner of Liwa Village is a charming petting zone packed with adorable animal encounters. From fluffy rabbits and wide-eyed owls to ponies you can pet, majestic falcons and even a slinky snake, it’s a mini zoo that children are sure to love. A sweet new addition to the area, it lets kids saddle up for a gentle pony ride across the sands.
Classic car festival
While outside, speed lovers chase the dunes up and down, inside the village, the classic car festival lures with its fantastic display of old Fords, Porsches, Ferraris and Impalas. At once, you are transported to the Bond movies of the 70s and 80s seeing these mean machines in their full vintage glory.
The souk
One of the highlight zones of the Liwa Village, the souk is where you can wander through a celebration of Emirati heritage, crafts and traditions. Try your hand at pottery, get henna applied on your hands, explore the lively dukkans, shop for pretty abayas and gather for a cup of coffee at the majlis.
Freestyle Drift at Tal Moreeb Drift Arena
The Freestyle Drift at Tal Moreeb Drift Arena at Liwa International festival is nothing short of a spectacle. Adrenaline takes over the sandscape as high-powered cars with their modified engines tear across the arena. The screaming tyres and the smoke emitted as drivers pull off gravity defying stunts, leave you gasping but it’s impossible to take your eyes away from the field. The action keeps you on your toes and the energy levels remain high.
Dune bashing and scaling up the Tal Moreeb
The centre of attraction is of course the Tal Moreeb, the UAE’s tallest sand dunes at 300 metres. It is here that car fanatics face the ultimate challenge: race to the top and back. From day to late in the night, the roar of the vehicles pierce through the silent desert air and fancy 4x4s scale up the dunes, full throttle, in an extraordinary show of power and driving skills. Close by, you can witness a few dunes illuminated by light shows creating a magical atmosphere. It’s exhilarating and awe-inspiring all at once, showcasing varied shades of a festival that captures both the raw thrill of motorsport and the quiet magic of the desert.
