The National Archives and Library’s Cultural Season Highlights the Historical and Civilizational Heritage of Liwa Oasis

As part of its Cultural Season for 2025, the National Library and Archives organized a virtual seminar titled “Liwa… Land of the Golden Hills”, which explored the historical, cultural, and economic significance of Liwa Oasis as one of the most important oases in Al Dhafra Region and a historic home of the Bani Yas confederation.
In her opening speech, Mrs. Eman Al-Breiki, session moderator, emphasized Liwa’s importance as an economic hub, hosting some of major onshore oil and gas fields in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in addition to its historical value and its association with the Al Bu Falah family, including Al Nahyan. She also highlighted Liwa’s natural beauty, characterized by towering sand dunes and settlements, Mahadir, surrounded by fertile oases with fresh water.
The researcher Shareena Saeed Al Qubaisi, Head of the Oral History Unit, delivered a documentary presentation based on interviews with several local narrators. She explored the Qayez, summer harvest, journey and up to 130 of Liwa settlements, Mahadir, highlighting aspects of the social and economic life, the roles of men and women, and the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s interest in cultivating Liwa.
Al Qubaisi also supported her presentation with photographs and detailed maps documenting Liwa’s historical sites, farms, Qayez caravans, and traditional activities.
Mr. Rashid Saeed Al Zaabi, a researcher from Trends Research and Advisory Center, presented a paper titled “Liwa: From Knowledge Dissemination to Knowledge Production”, which examined the oasis’s role in the knowledge economy, its cultural and heritage significance, and its contributions to food security and modern agricultural projects.
Al Zaabi highlighted the leadership vision for Liwa’s development, from Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s agricultural initiatives to the ongoing efforts of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who continues the Founding Father’s legacy by supporting the agricultural sector and promoting its contribution to the national economy. He proposed four mechanisms to enhance Liwa’s role in the knowledge economy including heritage digitization, applications of artificial intelligence, production of global visual content, and promotion of collaboration between research and cultural institutions.
In conclusion, the National Library and Archives affirmed that Liwa will remain a historical oasis of a steadfast national, heritage, and economic significance and a key component of the UAE’s journey toward a knowledge-based economy.