Today's Edition
RAJEEV CHERIAN (MADINAT ZAYED)
Celebrating the camel as an embedded symbol of Emirati culture, the final stage of the 17th edition of Al Dhafra Festival is in full swing in Madinat Zayed. The final leg of the cultural event commenced on January 20 and will run through February 8.
The coveted heritage event rolls out 730 prizes worth more than Dh11.4 million for the winners of the 76 rounds of the camel beauty pageant, also known as mazayna. Located some 180km from Abu Dhabi in the western Al Dhafra region on the edge of the Empty Quarter, the eponymous city Madinat Zayed owes its name to the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, offering a fitting backdrop to mark a deeply rooted cultural occasion.
The venue is packed for the mazayna, and spectators are welcomed with Arabic coffee in a fitting gesture of Emirati hospitality. But all eyes are on the camel arena, with divided pitches featuring a wide array of contestants.
Purebred golden-brown Asayel and dark-skinned Majaheem camels strolled in their allotted spaces as keepers remain occupied combing the camels’ hair or arranging sashes on the participating animals. Loudspeakers blared Bedouin tunes in the prelude to what the event had in store. Once the announcements began, cheers echoed across the stadium, as many tossed their headscarves into the air.
With camels participating from across the GCC region, the 17th edition of the festival is the largest since its inception in 2008. This year’s contest features a total of 361 rounds for all categories, 35 rounds more than the previous edition. The 17th edition included Swiehan mazayna, Razeem mazayna, Madinat Zayed mazayna, and the finale at Al Dhafra Festival.
The event is organised by the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee in cooperation with the Emirates Heritage Club. “Camels with big humps, wide necks, broad cheeks, among many other features, are what the judges are looking for,” Hamdan Mohammed, a member of the organising committee, told Aletihad.
Featuring Asayel, Majaheem, and Asayel hybrid breeds, the competition includes six age groups: Mafarid, Haqqa, Laqaya, Iytha, Thanya, and Hool. “Each day is allocated for a specific category. The Mafarid category is dedicated for baby camels aged one, while the others span the ages until Hool, which is for camels six years and older. On the final day, the most beautiful camels will be crowned,” said Salama Al Mheiri, a journalist attending the event.
Watching the spectacle closer in the stadium is Trent from Canada, who is visiting the event with family. “This is the fifth time I have attended the festival. It’s growing year by year, and it’s gratifying to witness the unfolding of culture firsthand,” he told Aletihad.
Apart from camels, the event comprises camel milking competitions, an Arabian horse race, and beauty pageants for sheep, falcons, and Arabian saluki dogs.
Additionally, the event hosts competitions for shooting, date packaging, and sour milk, among others. As the winners of the day were announced, the event came to a close, yet jubilation prevailed outside the stadium. Accompanying the winners, men danced to traditional music. “Look at their joy; it shows how close the camel is to them,” said Munir Khan, a taxi driver.
Escorted by SUVs slowly keeping pace with their camels, the winning groups progressed towards tents scattered across the venue, adorned with UAE and GCC countries’ flags. Amid each jubilant entourage, the camel stood tall.
