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    Liwa Oases
    Xiaotong Gao / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

    United Arab Emirates

    Liwa Oases

    Point of Interest

    The Liwa Oases are located in the Al Dhafra region, approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Abu Dhabi, on the northern edge of the Rub' al Khali.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. United Arab Emirates
    7. Abu Dhabi Emirate
    9. Liwa Oases
    The Liwa Oases are located in the Al Dhafra region, approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Abu Dhabi, on the northern edge of the Rub' al Khali. About 50 villages stretch for approximately 100 kilometers along an arc of palm groves; the largest settlement is Mezairaa. South of this, the approximately 300-meter-high dune Tal Moreeb rises, the venue for the winter Liwa International Festival.

    Sights in Liwa Oases

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Moreeb Valley (Moreeb Dune)
    Park

    1Moreeb Valley (Moreeb Dune)

    The approx. 300-meter-high dune, with a flank up to 50 degrees steep, lies about 25 km south of the oasis and is the Emirates' highest dune. In winter, it hosts the Liwa International Festival, featuring hill climbs, concerts, and camping.
    Open in Google Maps
    Fort Dhafeer
    Attraction

    2Fort Dhafeer

    Small mud fort right on the road at the edge of the oasis, easily accessible by a normal car. As the only one of Liwa's forts, it has a brick staircase up to the tower, from where you overlook the surroundings. Like the other forts of the oasis, it was restored in past decades.
    Open in Google Maps
    Mezairaa Fort
    Point of Interest

    3Mezairaa Fort

    Fortress with watchtowers and high walls in the center of Mezairaa, near the E90 and E45 roundabout, with parking right in front. Liwa's fortresses and towers once protected wells and residents from raids and were restored under Sheikh Zayed.
    Open in Google Maps

    Videos & Travel Reports

    United Arab Emirates: Quenching the Thirst of Liwa

    Full-length SLICE Earth documentary on the Liwa Oasis at the edge of the Empty Quarter, the historic home of Abu Dhabi's ruling families, and how water shapes life and farming there.

    Empty Quarter Desert in Abu Dhabi

    Carl Hoffman retraces Wilfred Thesiger's 1947 Bedouin journeys through the…

    Restaurants in Liwa Oases

    1

    Wheeda Restaurant

    The main restaurant of the Liwa Hotel in Mezairaa is open all day, serving Middle Eastern, Asian, and international dishes from breakfast to dinner.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food & Beverages

    Restaurants are few in Liwa. The desert resort Qasr Al Sarab, southeast of the oasis, offers the largest selection.

    Farm Fresh Dates

    In July, the Liwa Dates Festival revolves around Rutab, the fresh, semi-ripe dates of the oasis. Farmers display and sell their harvest.

    Dining in Qasr Al Sarab

    The desert resort offers theme nights at Al Waha, grills and seafood on the Suhail rooftop terrace, and from October to April, lamb and Mezze at the Bedouin Al Falaj.

    Coffee from Arabia

    The Al Liwan Lounge at Qasr Al Sarab offers Arabic coffee with pastries.

    History & Festivals

    Home of the Ruling FamiliesLiwa is considered the birthplace of Abu Dhabi and Dubai's ruling families. The Al Nahyan only moved their seat to the coast of Abu Dhabi in 1793.Dates and AgricultureThe oasis's economy revolves around date cultivation. Every July, the Liwa Dates Festival celebrates the harvest. In 2026, its 22nd edition ran from July 14 to 23, featuring competitions for the best fresh Rutab dates and other fruits.Liwa International FestivalIn winter, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the festival at Tal Moreeb dune, with over 700,000 in 2025/26. It features off-road vehicle hill climbs, concerts, and camping. The next edition is scheduled from December 11, 2026 to January 2, 2027.

    Access

    Getting There by CarLiwa is almost exclusively accessible by car, around 150 kilometers from Abu Dhabi. The Tal Moreeb dune is located about 25 kilometers south of the oasis. For drives into the dunes themselves, an off-road vehicle or a guided tour is necessary.RailEtihad Rail plans to open stations in the Al Dhafra region by late 2026, including one in Mezairaa within the Liwa Oasis. Check before traveling if the station is operational.

    Accommodations in Liwa Oases

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    Nearby

    Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and lies on an island in the Persian Gulf, connected to the mainland by several bridges. Besides the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and Qasr Al Hosn Fort, the Corniche, the Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace, and the mangroves to the east define the visit. Off the coast lie Saadiyat Island with its museums and Yas Island with Ferrari World and the Formula 1 track.
    Abu Dhabi Emirate

    Abu Dhabi Emirate

    The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is by far the largest of the seven emirates, covering most of the country's land area. It stretches from the capital on the Gulf coast, via the oasis city Al Ain on the Omani border, to the Liwa Oases on the edge of the Rub al-Chali.
    Saadiyat Island

    Saadiyat Island

    Saadiyat Island is an island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, a short taxi ride from the city center. At the island's western end, the Cultural District features the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, the Natural History Museum, teamLab Phenomena, and the Abrahamic Family House. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry is set to open on December 11, 2026, and a long sandy beach stretches along the north coast.

    Al Ain is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and is located approximately 160 kilometers east of the capital, on the border with Oman. Due to its oases, parks, and avenues, it is also known as the Garden City. The cultural sites of Al Ain were the first in the Emirates to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011, including the Oasis, the Hili Tombs, and the slopes of Jebel Hafeet.
    Dubai Emirate

    Dubai Emirate

    The Dubai Emirate is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf and comprises, in addition to the eponymous city, the exclave of Hatta in the Hajar Mountains. Approximately 4.8 million people live here (as of September 2026). Between the Old Town on Dubai Creek, the skyscrapers of Downtown, and the reservoirs of Hatta, there is approximately a ninety-minute drive.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • Video reportages: United Arab Emirates: Quenching the Thirst of Liwa, Empty Quarter Desert in Abu Dhabi
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI