Abu Dhabi: The world’s largest festival of Bedouin traditions will take place in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region from December 13 to 29, the organising committee announced today.
The 10th edition of Al Dhafra Festival will take place in Abu Dhabi’s Madinat Zayed, Al Gharbia, with over 1,200 prizes totalling around Dh35 million up for grabs.
Visitors will be able to experience the essence of desert culture through shows and competitions that are focused on camels, dates, salukis and falconry. The festival will include a camel beauty contest, Arabian saluki beauty contest, handicrafts competition, Arabian horse race, best date competition, sour milk competition, classic car competition, a number of falcon mazaynas (beauty contests) and dedicated children activities in the Children’s Village.
A traditional market with over 200 shops is also set to introduce visitors to the best of Emirati handicrafts.
The festival will also host one of the world’s largest camel beauty contests and camel gatherings with organisers expecting around 2,000 camel owners and over 20,000 camels from the GCC taking part in the event.
Obaid Khalfan Al Mazroui, director of Heritage Competitions in the Committee, told Gulf News the event promotes Emirati heritage with particular emphasis placed on camels to showcase the role of camels in the culture and heritage of the UAE.
“The camel played a big part in our culture, going back perhaps even a 100 years. It was used for travel, for its milk, we ate the meat and people even used its wool for clothes,” said Al Mazroui.
The 15-day festival, which was first launched in 2008, is expected to attract around 80,000 visitors from around the world.
Al Dhafra Festival highlights
Where: Madinat Zayed, Al Gharbia (the Western Region – Abu Dhabi)
When: December 13 to 29.
What: Arabian Saluki Beauty Contest, December 16, 3pm.
Handicrafts Competition: December 17, 8am.
Falcon Mazayna: December 23, 2pm.
Purebred Arabian Horse Race: December 26,
