July 3,  2009 (WAM) -- Intensive preparations for the fifth Liwa Al Ratab (Date) Festival continue apace, according to the event's Organising Committee. The festival is held on July 16-27 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and organized by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH). "The festival enjoys simplicity as well as quality and excellence," said Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazroui, Director General of ADACH and Chairman of the Organising Committee. "The festival directly relates to the visitors and guests through taking their valuable opinion. We deal with their important remarks to improve the image and events of the festival a year after another," said Mazrouei.

"We are putting every effort towards a better understanding of global practices regarding the way of preserving this ancient heritage. The idea of the festival is to encourage people to plant palm trees within the right environmental, to achieve a better quality of ratab production and palm preservation. ADACH aims to instill the culture of palm and ratab into the minds of different generations in the State," he added.

Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Director of the Festival, said that the work "is being carried out fast and to the highest standards by specialized teams. ADACH is continuously following up with all aspects of preparations and the Festival administration is preparing everything, starting from equipping the tents, which will host multiple activities." "The Festival's total area is approximately 43,000 square meters, accommodating the hospitality tent and another for children, which includes a women-only gathering place," said Khalfan Mazrouei.

"The preparations carried out by the Authority are characterized by a strict observance of safety and quality standards, especially in the large exhibition space, which hosts the daily special programme and multiple activities, including rewarding cultural, encouragement and awareness competitions to all festival visitors. High-quality services are also provided, and there are several surprises for children and families visiting the festival, which will be announced in the right time in order not to spoil the element of surprise," he added.

"We now know that ratab baskets will be sold at a decent price. There is no secret for those who are following closely our intensive preparations. This year's festival is more distinguished from the previous years and worthy of the organization of its activities by ADACH," he concluded.

Ahmed bin Mohammad bin Hammouda Al Mazrouei, PR and Hospitality Director, said that the there is intensive coordination between 11 government departments concerned with palm tree plantation and ratab cultivation and a number of professional educational institutions and companies, which will exhibit the latest in ratab cultivations and palm care.

"Up to 60 companies are all seeking to provide valuable information on the way of caring for palm trees and ratab and maximizing quality in addition to the special presence of The Festival's sponsors and supporters," said bin Hammouda Mazrouei, adding that "The Festival has been coordinating with distinctive event companies, making sure that their hospitality services will fit various ages at affordable prices to all." "Daily shuttle buses for those wishing to attend The Festival will be available between Liwa and Abu Dhabi throughout the event days. These distinguished bus services, while adhering to hospitality at the highest level," he added.

Saeed Al Kaabi, Director of the Traditional Market Committee, said the last touches for productive families' participations were being finalized. There would 140 shops in the market, mostly run by these families. "Other shops will be distributed between government institutions and participating companies and areas for popular dishes and traditional performances will be allocated," said Kaabi.