Abu Dhabi: The total value of awards to be presented during the Al Dhafra Festival which is scheduled to be held in December has been increased to Dh46 million, announced Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazroui, chairman of the higher organising committee of the festival.
The sixth edition of the festival will be organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) from December 15-29 in Madinat Zayed, Al Gharbia (Western Region), Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Al Mazroui, who is also adviser for culture and heritage at the court of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and a board member of TCA, said the number of camel beauty competitions will be increased to 70 during the event, up from 56 in the 2011 edition.
A palm date beauty competition will also be held for the first time at the festival, which celebrates national heritage. Regular features of the event include the traditional market, and date packaging and photography competitions.
Al Mazroui thanked President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for their support to heritage preservation efforts.
The festival’s main attractions include the Mazayna Al Dhafra (camel beauty contest), dates packaging competition, falcon competition, saluki competition, heritage camel racing, camel auctions, camel milking competition, handicrafts competition, photography competition, heritage market, and the ‘children’s village’.
