Looking for a way to kick off 2014 with a thrilling taste of local culture and activities? Then you’ve got to load up the car and head to the scenic, dune-laden Western Region of Abu Dhabi for the remaining few days of the annual Liwa International Festival.
Set in Al Gharbia, Liwa 2014, as it’s also known, is a week-long celebration of UAE heritage with competitions and spectacles including horse, camel and falcon racing and, more popularly with Emiratis and expats alike, some wild, stunt-laden motor racing of a unique variety.
Indeed, the highlight feature of Liwa 2014 is a muscled-up race to the top of one of the world’s highest sand hills – the Moreeb Dune, which in English means ‘Scary Mountain’, and which also happens to be an age-old meeting point for organised drag racing round these parts.
But what’s so scary about this particular dune?
For starters, it has an altitude of about 990 feet (300 metres), and secondly, it comes with an acute angle leaning of 50 degrees, 1600 metres in length. Needless to say, racing up something like that involves some high stakes for parties involved.
Meanwhile, for spectators it simply means some stunning pictures and an experience that will last you a lifetime.
The ‘Mountain’ is contested over various categories for different car and bike types – from normal gear cars driven by brave contenders to souped-up six and eight-cylinder beasts on wheels powered by some of the nation’s biggest and most talented speed freaks.
It goes without saying that this weekend’s proceedings will be one of the wildest and noisiest the tranquil, stark landscapes of Al Gharbia will have ever hosted throughout the year and if you’re looking for some unique sporting action in the capital, this is the place to be.
Hot wheels are the order of the day, and yet there are even more to be won by those who come out literally on top, with car race winners receiving some 4X4 vehicles costing a pretty penny, while the best timed bike riders are awarded a Polaris ATV.
While all this organised chaos takes place on the mountain, down below there will also be a fine classic cars display worthy of the dis-cerning vehicle enthusiast, as well as attractions for kids including some gorgeous fireworks displays, a play area, food stalls and more.
What’s great too about a visit to one of the popular heritage festivals such as this regularly held in this vast region – Al Gharbia makes up over two thirds of the emirate of Abu Dhabi – is the drive to get there.
The distance from Abu Dhabi to the Moreeb Dune is about 250 kilometres and it is peppered with historic scenes and landmarks in the lead up to the Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter), the world’s largest uninterrupted sand mass.
Indeed, an excursion to Liwa for this fascinating desert challenge in wonderful weather conditions makes for the perfect cultural family outing and will blow you away with massive expanses of awesome desert and the biggest dunes this side of the Sahara.
The Liwa International Festival is organised by Abu Dhabi Motor Club and is held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region.
WHAT: The Liwa International Festival finale featuring bike and car races WHEN: January 2 and 3, 2014.
WHERE: Moreeb Dune, al Gharbia, which is about 250 kms from abu Dhabi.
COST: Entry is free for spectators.
Sport360 VERDICT: a big attraction for thrill-seekers and at the same time makes for an ideal family outing as the wonderful weather and the fantastic desert settings of al Gharbia provide a perfect backdrop to the excursion.
CONTACT: www.admc.ae/en/
