Diverse, impressive traditional, heritage and folkloric events at the 10th edition of Al Dhafra Festival have attracted over 90,000 visitors including diplomats and VIP guests, over two weeks of the cultural gathering which took place in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, organisers announced at the conclusion of the event.

Organised by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the 16-day cultural and heritage event aims at preserving the cultural heritage of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the region, as a whole.

It also seeks to preserve the Emirati popular heritage, of which Emiratis are still proud until today. The Al Dhafra Festival has also many other objectives including the stimulation of the economic activity in the Western Region, and the promotion of the Gate of the Empty Quarter, Madinat Zayed, among the lovers of heritage tourism from all over the world.

Since it was launched, the Festival has gained a prestigious regional and international position on the calendar of heritage festivals. The growing success has come thanks to the unlimited support and great trust to organise this unique heritage event which came to contribute to the revival of the authentic Arab heritage,'' according to organisers.

Major General Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi, said the Festival has blended the rich past of the UAE with its glorious future through a variety of heritage competitions and promoted the local heritage and culture and efforts aimed at safeguarding national treasures.

''The Festival has contributed to place the Western Region's culture and heritage in the world tourism map,'' he added.

Organisers said over 14,000 participants from the UAE and GCC countries contested in 16 heritage competitions at a total cash prize of AED35 million. The Camel Mazayna (camel beauty contest),the main competition of the Festival, has witnessed stiff competition between more than 2000 camel owners in the Arabia. More than 25,000 camels in the categories of Aayel (golden-red camel breed, originally from Oman) and Majahim (the black camel of Saudi Arabia) competed in 84 laps.

This year's edition also included a number of heritage events and competitions, notably the Camel Mazayna Competition, the Heritage Camel Race, the Arab Heritage Saluki Race, the Falcon Hunting Competition, the Mahaleb Competition, Sour Milk Competition,Purebred Arabian Horse Race, the Best Dates Mazayna Competition, Dates Packaging Competition, the Handicrafts Competition.

A unique event of its kind, the Festival has succeeded in transforming the UAE heritage into a rich material shared and distributed by the local, Arab and international media.

source : WAM