UAE | Heritage and Culture
Preparations in full swing for Al Dhafrah camel festival
The Al Dhafrah Festival organising committee is preparing to kick off the big event on December 23 in Madinat Zayed, Al Gharbia (Western Region).
- By Eman Mohammed, Abu Dhabi Deputy Editor
- Published: 23:39 December 10, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archives
- The festival started last year as an annual event and is dedicated to give life to the traditional camel-raising culture. Image for illustrative purpose only.
Abu Dhabi: The Al Dhafrah Festival organising committee is preparing to kick off the big event on December 23 in Madinat Zayed, Al Gharbia (Western Region).
It will run until January 1.
The festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and is part of its strategy to preserve cultural heritage in the UAE.
It has been organised under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The festival started last year as an annual event and is dedicated to give life to the traditional camel-raising culture; the event includes a camel beauty contest, camel auction, date-wrapping competition, handicraft market and a photography and poetry competition.
Culture
Last year approximately 15,000 competitors from the UAE and GCC took part in the event and this year the number is expected to rise.
This increase is expected because of the recent transfer of camels from neighbouring GCC states to the UAE.
Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazrouei, general manager, ADACH, said: "The festival aims to preserve the authentic breeding line of local camels known as Asaile and Majaheem. The festival also aims to create awareness about Bedouin culture and encourage heritage-related tourism, which will make Al Dhafra an international tourist city."
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