The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced programming details and the impressive lineup of partners for this year’s Liwa Village at Liwa International Festival 2026, which continues until 3 January 2026. Set within Al Dhafra Region’s iconic desert landscape, the festival is one of Abu Dhabi’s most anticipated winter celebrations, presenting thrilling motorsports challenges and honouring the UAE’s heritage through culture, entertainment, and family experiences.

Liwa Village: The Festival’s Cultural & Entertainment Heartbeat

Located at the heart of the Liwa International Festival, cultural and entertainment destination Liwa Village is an expansive space where heritage, creativity, adventure, and family experiences come together in one seamlessly curated journey. Built around six immersive zones – Shams Liwa, Wanasa, Meydan, Souk, Adrenaline, and Auto – the Village offers a rich lineup of activities designed to engage every age group and interest, inviting visitors to explore a world that celebrates the UAE’s traditions while embracing the energy of modern entertainment.

Shams Liwa, crowned by its iconic Ferris Wheel, provides sweeping views of the Village and the golden dunes surrounding it, setting the tone for a memorable visit. The cultural heart of the Village is the Souk, inspired by traditional Emirati markets, bringing heritage to life through pottery workshops, weaving, henna, live cooking sessions, artisan showcases, and sensory cultural experiences that resonate with both residents and tourists.

For younger visitors, Wanasa delivers a vibrant mix of creative workshops, carnival rides, maze adventures, and play parks crafted to spark imagination and connection. Meydan, the dynamic teen zone, enhances this year’s programme with immersive challenges including smash rooms, horror escape rooms, strategic games, and interactive stage moments tailored to bold, expressive youth.

Adventure-seekers will enjoy the Adrenaline Zone, home to high-energy rides, carnival attractions, and thrilling games that add momentum to the Village’s lively atmosphere. Meanwhile, motoring fans will find a dedicated haven in the Auto Zone, featuring a rotating exhibition of classic cars, RC racing tracks, jeep experiences, and hands-on motoring-themed activations that celebrate the UAE’s strong automotive culture.

Beyond its core zones, this year’s Liwa Village expands with signature attractions including the Monster Jam Arena, the family-friendly Petting Zoo & Pony Grove, and the adrenaline-fuelled Desert Rally and Water Karting experiences, ensuring every visitor can navigate their own adventure across the Village’s extended footprint.

Across the festival’s 23 days, the Village will host live shows, hands-on workshops, interactive installations, cultural showcases, and exclusive partner activations, creating a deeply engaging, accessible, and family-friendly environment. With its diversity, scale, and heritage-driven design, Liwa Village promises an unmissable experience that brings culture, entertainment, and community together on The Desert’s Grand Stage.

A destination brought to life through partnerships

As Liwa Village expands its offering for the 2026 edition, this year’s partners will introduce a selection of dedicated activities, displays, and guest experiences. Emirates NBD joins as Zone Presenting Partner, alongside Official Partners Noon, CFI Financial Group, Al Masaood Equipment Rental, Ma Hawa, Yango Group, and Al Ain Zoo, each contributing engaging touchpoints designed to amplify the Village atmosphere. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi returns as Medical Partner, ensuring the wellbeing and safety of all visitors across the Village grounds.

A focus on sustainability

LIWA Village is setting a new benchmark in sustainability this year, powering the venue with clean mobile energy. DCT Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with event organiser LINKVIVA and their energy partner Kilo Energy, set up a large temporary solar farm at the festival grounds, proving not only that renewable energy can powering entire events, but also that such solutions are more convenient for event guests, as they are free of noise and emissions.

The system, developed by Kilo Energy, combines a large-scale portable solar farm with high-end Huawei energy storage systems, ensuring a steady supply of clean energy day and night.The deployed clean mobile energy system is optimised for use at events of any size, and reflects DCT Abu Dhabi’s leadership in adopting innovative, future-ready energy infrastructure to redefine how events can be powered.

A Beloved Tradition for Over Two Decades

For more than 20 years, the Liwa International Festival has been a cherished annual event, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from the UAE, region and around the world. Each year the event continues to grow and evolve, offering an experience that blends tradition with modern-day appeal, ensuring it remains the ultimate winter destination in Abu Dhabi.

Whether visiting for a day or staying for an extended desert escape, Liwa International Festival 2026 provides a unique opportunity to connect with the UAE’s heritage, create unforgettable memories with loved ones, and enjoy an authentic celebration of Emirati culture.

Riyadh became today the capital of global hospitality and gastronomy as HORECA Riyadh, Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh and Host Arabia opened their doors, marking the beginning of the kingdom’s largest and most anticipated hospitality and food service event of the year.

 Held from 15 to 17 December 2025 at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center, the joint event — organized by Semark Group in collaboration with Fiera Milano and Hospitality Services under the strategic partnership of the Culinary Arts Commission (CAC) — brings together the full spectrum of the hospitality industry under one roof.

The opening ceremony gathered senior officials, ambassadors and leading figures from the public and private sectors, alongside distinguished guests of honor Guillaume Gomez, President of Groupe Gastronomie and former French ambassador for gastronomy, and renowned Belgian Chocolatier Pierre Marcolini, who joined the celebrations to mark this new milestone in Saudi Arabia’s journey to becoming a global leader in hospitality, gastronomy and tourism.

Uniting four major events, HORECA Riyadh, Host Arabia, Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh and Saudi Elite Chefs, this extraordinary week redefines the scale of professional gatherings in the region. Across 42,000 square meters, the events feature over 500 exhibitors from more than 60 countries and expect to welcome 50,000 professional visitors over three days. Together, they form a powerhouse of creativity, innovation and collaboration.

In his opening remarks, Jad Taktak, CEO of Semark Group, said: “Today we celebrate a milestone for Saudi Arabia’s hospitality industry. This unified platform brings together decades of experience and innovation from around the world to support the kingdom’s bold vision and transform Riyadh into a global destination for excellence, creativity and collaboration.”

HORECA Riyadh, now in its 14th edition, continues its legacy as the kingdom’s leading hospitality and foodservice exhibition, showcasing cutting-edge solutions across foodservice, catering, design and coffee culture.

Visitors will experience a dynamic program of masterclasses, live competitions, and expert-led talks, uniting over 70 international chefs and speakers. The Hospitality Salon Culinaire, Saudi Barista, and Mocktail Competitions are once again among the event’s highlights, celebrating talent and excellence in every aspect of hospitality. HORECA Talks, organized with Hospitality News Middle East and Hodema Consulting Services, will feature thought-provoking sessions exploring innovation, sustainability and the future of hospitality in Saudi Arabia.

“As part of the HORECA Network, with annual events across the Middle East, HORECA Riyadh brings together leading hospitality and foodservice professionals, innovators and investors. Alongside it, Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh celebrates chocolate and pastry artistry while highlighting key trends in the Saudi market,” said Joumana Dammous-Salamé, managing director of Hospitality Services, the company behind the HORECA Network and co-organizer of Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh.

Meanwhile, Host Arabia, making its Saudi debut, brings the international excellence of Host Milano to the region for the very first time. As an extension of the world’s foremost hospitality exhibition organized by Fiera Milano, Host Arabia fosters new partnerships and investment opportunities. The event also features a strong participation of Italian companies — supported also by ITA – Italian Trade Agency and Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation — highlighting the innovation, quality, and craftsmanship of the Made in Italy hospitality sector.

“Host Arabia reflects Fiera Milano’s commitment to supporting industries by connecting companies with global and fast-growing markets,” said Carlo Bonomi, president of Fiera Milano. “The initiative is part of the Group’s international development strategy” added Roberto Foresti, deputy general manager of Fiera Milano, “reinforcing our role as a global hub that brings together expertise, innovation, and international opportunities.”

Running concurrently within the exhibition is the third edition of Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh, held in partnership with Hospitality Services, transforming the center into a world of sweetness and artistry. With 40 masterclasses, live demonstrations and competitions, the event gathers over 30 international and regional pastry chefs and chocolatiers. Guests will enjoy a curated experience of chocolate, pastry and dessert innovation, celebrating both international craftsmanship and the richness of Saudi culinary creativity.

“Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh showcases the kingdom’s growing presence on the global culinary stage,” said Gérald Palacios, President of the Salon du Chocolat and Event International. “It’s a celebration of tradition and transformation, where every bite tells a story and every technique opens a new chapter.”

Adding to the momentum, the second edition of Saudi Elite Chefs, organized by the Culinary Arts Commission, also opened today. This prestigious event brings together the kingdom’s top chefs in a series of high-level competitions that showcase Saudi cuisine, inspire the next generation of culinary professionals and reflect the nation’s growing influence on the global gastronomic stage.

With the success of this unprecedented alliance, Saudi Arabia has entered a new era of hospitality leadership, one where local talent and international expertise come together to shape the future of the industry across the region and beyond.

HORECA Riyadh, Host Arabia, Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyad, and Saudi Elite Chefs run from 15 to 17 December 2025 at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center, open from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the first day and 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the following days.

Get ready to turn everyday hydration into a moment of creativity. Oodles of Doodles, the playful, kid-created flavoured water brand, is launching in the MENA region in December 2025, inviting little sippers to colour outside the lines with every can.

Designed by three inventive youngsters and brought to life by a team of parents, Oodles of Doodles is a drink created by kids, for kids. Each 8.4oz BPA-free can features a space for children to doodle, draw, and personalise, transforming every drink into a moment of creativity and self-expression.

“We’re thrilled to bring our brand to the MENA region,” said Alisha Eason, Founder of Oodles of Doodles. “We wanted to create something kids could interact with. Something that sparks creativity, adds a little fun to the day, and gives them something that feels like it’s truly theirs. Every can is a chance to doodle, imagine, and sip something healthier.”

Available in four fruity flavours, apple, mango, orange and pineapple, Oodles of Doodles offers still and sparkling options in colourful, doodle-friendly packaging that encourages children to express themselves in everyday moments.

With its focus on fun and imagination, the brand is set to make a splash across the region through key retail partnerships and growing demand from families looking for products that stand out and invite kids to do the same.

Why families love Oodles of Doodles:

•       Draw on the can – every can is a canvas for kids to decorate

•       Flavours kids love – apple, mango, orange, and pineapple

•       Parent approved – healthy, convenient, and fun

•       Still and sparkling options – versatile for any time of day

•       BPA-free packaging – kid-safe and planet-friendly

From lunchboxes to birthday parties, Oodles of Doodles is here to turn ordinary drinks into something a little more magical, where every sip comes with a splash of creativity.