Four Reasons Everyone’s Talking About Liwa Festival

From bike drag races to drift championships, this desert takeover puts motorsports front and center.

Liwa International Festival 2026 has taken over the UAE winter calendar with a schedule that keeps the desert active from December 12, 2025, through January 3, 2026. Set in the Al Dhafra Region, the festival delivers a full lineup of motorsports competitions, endurance challenges, and large-scale desert events that continue day after day. With racing formats, strict technical rules, and a packed competition calendar, Liwa has positioned itself as the season’s most talked-about destination for motorsports enthusiasts and curious first-timers alike.

Reason One: The Bike Drag Race Starts the Momentum

Day Three of the festival launches with the Bike Drag Race, part of the official sports programme. The competition follows a straight-line format, with riders ranked according to their best recorded times under approved technical regulations. Oversight comes from specialised organisational and technical committees focused on safety and event management.

Five categories take part in the race: UTV Stock, UTV Stock Modified, Buggies, Two-Wheel Stock, and the Open Category, which allows various types of bikes. Rankings and prizes depend on the number of bikes in each category. Every vehicle undergoes mandatory technical inspection before competition, reinforcing clear regulatory standards across the event.

Reason Two: Tal Moreeb Hosts the Biggest Challenges

Tal Moreeb, the UAE’s tallest sand dune at 300 metres, remains central to the festival’s competitive calendar. The Tal Moreeb Running Challenge takes place on December 26, while the Tal Moreeb Motorsports Championship runs from December 31, 2025, through January 3, 2026.

Additional motorsports events surround Tal Moreeb throughout the festival. The Liwa Burnout Championship takes place on December 25, followed by the Liwa Drift Championship and Monster Jam shows on December 26 and 27. The Electronic Freestyle Championship is scheduled for December 30, extending the motorsports focus through the final days of the year.

Reason Three: The Sports Schedule Never Slows

Beyond motorsports, the festival features a broad competitive programme. The Falconry Championship runs from December 15 to 17. The Sand Show Championship and the Extreme Mud Fest Sand Challenge both take place on December 19 and 20. The Liwa Running Challenge follows on December 20, with the Liwa Cycling Race and UTV Circuit Races scheduled for December 21.

Combat and skill-based competitions also feature heavily. The Hadd Al-Hamam Championship runs on December 23 and 24. The Sand Wrestling Championship takes place on December 26 and 27. A boxing championship runs from December 15 through December 21. Football and padel tournaments appear throughout the festival, including the Liwa Padel Championship from December 26 to 28 and the Liwa Cycling Challenge on December 27.

Reason Four: It Works Even If You Are Not Into Motorsports

Liwa Village anchors the festival experience with activities that extend beyond racing. Visitors can access water karting, zip-lines, carnival and skill games, a Classic Cars Museum, an escape room, a rage room, and pony and petting zoos. A traditional handicrafts market, live music, cultural performances, and Emirati and international food options run throughout the event.

Daily light shows, drone displays, hot-air balloon activities, water karting, paintball, and fireworks on select occasions add to the full-day schedule. New Year’s Eve features a special concert and fireworks display over the Liwa Desert.

With competitive events running across multiple disciplines and a calendar that fills nearly every day through early January, Liwa International Festival 2026 has secured its place as the UAE’s most action-focused winter event. From bike drag races and drift championships to endurance challenges and desert competitions, Liwa continues to keep the desert active well into the new year.