The 17th edition of the Al Dhafra Festival 2023, a camel beauty contest, will take place in Abu Dhabi starting tomorrow. Tens of thousands of camels from across the Arabian Peninsula will participate in the festival, which runs until 28th October. The event aims to highlight the role of camels in the UAE and GCC countries’ culture and heritage.
Camel Mazayna Competitions
The festival includes camel mazayna competitions for purebred breeds in the categories of Asayel, Majahim, Asayel hybrids, and Wadh. The festival’s upcoming edition will include Sweihan mazayna, Razeen mazayna, Madinat Zayed mazayna, and the concluding Al Dhafra Festival. The Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi organizes the festival.
Festival Schedule
The festival’s first phase will run until 28th October, followed by three camel beauty contests in Abu Dhabi (from 11th to 18th November) and Medinat Zayed (from 16th to 23 December). The festival will conclude from 20th January to 8th Februray 2024, featuring a total of 361 rounds for all participating camel breeds – an increase of 35 rounds compared to the previous edition.
Objectives of the Festival
The Al Dhafra Festival aims to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s status as a leading destination for camel mazaynas and a regional and global platform for heritage events. It also seeks to highlight and revive 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.
Summary: The 17th edition of the Al Dhafra Festival 2023, a camel beauty contest, will take place in Abu Dhabi starting tomorrow. The festival includes camel mazayna competitions for purebred breeds. The festival aims to highlight the role of camels in the UAE and GCC countries’ culture and heritage. It also aims to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s status as a leading destination for heritage events and promote the values of loyalty and belonging.
