This is going to be great – there’s even a camel beauty comp.. stay tuned!
Al Dhafra Festival is back and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever before – there’s even a single AED 6 million prize at stake.
The three-month festival, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is set to take place from 28 October 2021 to 22 January 2022 across new and different locations.
HE Sheikh Mohamed issued directives to expand the festival to include camel mazayna (beauty contest) competitions in Sweihan, Razeen and Madinat Zayed, in addition to the principal mazayna competition at the Al Dhafra Festival site.
He also ordered the total prize money at the festival to be increased to an astounding AED110 million. Increasing the prize money is also intended to boost camel breeding and camel racing, thus creating new job opportunities.
The 15th edition of the festival, which coincides with the country’s Year of the 50th celebrations, is set to witness widespread interest and increased participation by camel owners in the UAE and GCC countries.
The festival showcases Emirati and GCC heritage and puts Abu Dhabi under the spotlight in this regard.
Apart from camels, there will be a number of competitions that include, pure Arabian horse and traditional Arabian saluki races, archery, and falconry and ghanam al naim (sheep) mazayna.
The 15th Edition of Al Dhafra Festival will see four mazayna competitions – in Sweihan, Razeen, Madinat Zayed, and Al Dhafra Festival, during the 2021/2022 camel mazayna season in Abu Dhabi, with a total prize value of AED 110 million distributed over 313 rounds and 2,937 prizes.
This festival will also include the launch of the Bairaq Al Emarat Award for Asayel and Majahim camel breeds, with a prize value of AED 6 million. For the first time in mazayna competitions, prizes will be based on a new points system.
The festival’s 15th edition will also witness new races for camel mazayna in two categories; hybrid and Wadh, as well as milking competition. These four mazayna competitions are set to witness the participation of over 13,000 camels.
Sweihan Mazayna will take place from 28 October to 3 November 2021, with a total prize value exceeding AED 11.4 million.
Razeen Mazayna will take place from 25 November to 1 December 2021, with a total prize value exceeding AED 11.4 million.
Madinat Zayed Mazayna will take place from 23 to 29 December 2021, with prizes amounting to over AED 11.4 million.
And finally, Al Dhafra Festival Mazayna will be held from 13 to 22 January 2022, with the total prize value exceeding AED 51.6 million.
Heritage competitions will also be held from 13 to 22 January 2022, at Al Dhafra Festival site in Zayed City.
The festival will include 27 races, with total prize value of AED 110 million distributed over the following categories: Pure Arabian Horse Race, Falconry, Traditional Arabian Saluki Race, Falcon Mazayna, Arabian Saluki Mazayna, Archery, Ghanam Al Naim Mazayna (sheep beauty competition).
For updates, visit Abu Dhabi Culture
Source WAM – UAE National News Agency
