18th Al Dhafra Festival To Celebrate Emirati Heritage In Abu Dhabi From October 2024

The 18th Al Dhafra Festival, under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will commence on 21st October 2024. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, this event is a key highlight of the camel mazayna season in Abu Dhabi and will continue until 30th January 2025.

The festival will feature four camel mazayna events. It starts with the Sweihan Mazayna from 21st to 28th October 2024. Next is the Razeen Mazayna from 14th to 21st November 2024, followed by the Madinat Zayed Mazayna from 12th to 19th December 2024. The series concludes with the Al Dhafra Festival Mazayna from 11th to 30th January 2025.

In total, there are 361 rounds in camel mazayna and mahalib (milking) competitions, with a total of 3,460 prizes available. The camel mazayna includes Majahim, Asayel, Asayel hybrids, and Wadh categories across 355 rounds with a total of 3,400 prizes. Additionally, six rounds and 60 prizes are dedicated to the Mahalib competition for Asayel and Majahim categories.

The festival also hosts various heritage competitions during its final phase. These include falconry contests, falcon beauty contests, Arabian Saluki beauty contests and races, Arabian horse races, and an Al Naim sheep beauty contest. Other activities include dates mazayna and packaging contests, shooting contests, cooking competitions, sour milk contests, and a camel sitting competition.

Visitors can enjoy numerous cultural experiences at the Al Dhafra traditional souk. They can explore pavilions from government and private organisations as well as various outdoor markets. The festival promotes sustainable practices in line with the Year of Sustainability and President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's directives.

The festival supports environmental protection while conserving resources. It continues President Sheikh Mohamed's commitment to heritage projects by promoting camel breeding and care. It also supports falconry enthusiasts and purebred Arabian horses while encouraging ownership of these breeds.

Promoting Heritage and Tourism

The festival aims to unify competition standards while expanding participation among camel owners. It seeks to preserve purebred camels, boost trade in camels, enhance domestic and Gulf tourism development, stimulate economic activity in the region, highlight Abu Dhabi's prominence as a leading destination for camel mazayna events.

Cultural festivals organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority highlight Abu Dhabi's role in preserving local and Arab heritage. By showcasing Emirati traditions these initiatives reinforce national identity within society while documenting heritage practices advancing research aligned with Abu Dhabi's cultural strategy.

With inputs from WAM