This new escape promises culture, community, and a touch of luxury.
Abu Dhabi’s desert dunes have long looked ready for the big screen, providing a stunning backdrop for films like Dune and Star Wars. Now the emirate is shaping a real-world experience that captures the same sense of scale and serenity with Liwa Farm Village, a new cultural destination that reimagines the desert lifestyle for today’s traveller.
Set in the Liwa desert near the edge of the Empty Quarter and close to the Saudi Arabian border, Liwa Farm Village is conceived as part working farm, part cultural hub, and part getaway. Spanning 7,000 square meters, the development brings agriculture, architecture, and hospitality together in a community setting. The focus is on connection, whether that is to food production, local heritage, or the social rhythms of desert life.
The project draws on ancestral building techniques that have shaped settlements across the region. Expect rammed earth walls formed from desert sand, windcatchers that channel breezes to cool interiors, and aflaj irrigation systems that move water where it is needed. Roofs fashioned from palm trunks and other natural materials complete the palette. These time-tested methods are being adapted for modern comfort and sustainability, creating spaces that feel authentic yet contemporary. By placing agriculture at the heart of the plan and reviving traditional craftsmanship, Liwa Farm Village aims to keep cultural memory alive and relevant for new generations.
The experience is designed to weave together nature, culture, and community. Plans include exhibition halls that showcase local heritage, a veterinary and teaching facility linked to horse paddocks, and a central majlis for gatherings. Guests can look forward to a farm-to-table restaurant, a spa set among lavender and lemongrass, and bungalows nestled within palm groves. Whether these stays will be part of a hotel offering or private residences has not yet been disclosed.
An official opening date has not been confirmed, although early indications suggest a launch later this year. Once complete, Liwa Farm Village is poised to become a landmark destination for the capital, offering a grounded and graceful take on desert living. Keep an eye on FACT for the latest updates as the project moves toward its debut.
GO: Visit www.visitabudhabi.ae for more information.