ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the final stage of the 17th edition of Al Dhafra Festival will take place from 20 January until 8 February 2024 in Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra Region.

The event is organised by the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee in collaboration with Emirates Heritage Club.

The final stage of the 17th Al Dhafra Festival will showcase the the Camel Mazayna along with a range of competitions and accompanying heritage events. These include camel milking competitions, Arabian horse race, traditional Arabian saluki race, falcon beauty pageant and Arabian saluki beauty contest.

The event also features a shooting competition, Al Naim sheep beauty pageant, date mazayna and date packaging competition, sour milk contest, and camel sitting competition, in addition to numerous other heritage and cultural activities.

Since its inaugural edition in 2008, Al Dhafra Festival has been graced by the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. This enduring support has laid the groundwork for safeguarding the UAE’s cultural heritage, ensuring its preservation, and passing it on to the generations to come.

This commitment follows the path set by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father, who instilled in generations a deep appreciation for heritage and a sense of pride in customs and traditions.

The festival aims to unify the standards, terms and conditions, and intensify efforts to achieve success in the camel beauty contests, encourage greater participation of camel owners in the competitions, preserve the purebred camel breeds, boost camel trade, contribute to the development of domestic and Gulf tourism and stimulate economic activity.

It also aims to showcase the region and solidify Abu Dhabi’s status as a leading destination for camel beauty pageants and a regional and global platform for heritage events. The festival seeks to highlight and revive the Emirati and Arab heritage through camel beauty competitions, convey UAE’s civilisational and humanitarian message to the world, and promote the values of loyalty and belonging through the practice of authentic Emirati heritage.