Our Correspondent
The 14th edition of Al Dhafra Festival, the greatest celebration of Bedouin lifestyle, will be held 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, from November5, 2020 to January 29, 2021 in Medinat Zayed, Dhafra Region, said the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee in Abu Dhabi which organises it.
The committee affirmed that all preventive and precautionary measures against COVID-19 will be taken for the safety and well-being of participants and guests.
Major General Fares Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Committee, said the traditional, folkloric and handicraft events at the festival reflect the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in preserving the country’s culture, heritage and identity.
Eisa Saif Al Mazrouei, Vice-Chairman of the Committee, noted that at the heart of this year’s exceptional edition are the Mazayna (competition) camel beauty contests that focus on purebred camels from the Asayel (pedigree) and Majaheem (dark-skinned) lineages, falconry contests, the 2500-metre Arabian saluki race, purebred Arabian horse race, sheep beauty contest, and shooting competition.
This year’s festival will not have the traditional souq and associated events owing to health safety measures, he explained.
Speaking about precautionary measures, he said race tracks and competition sites will be sanitised daily while festival staff, juries and participants must present a negative COVID-19 test, wear face mask and gloves, and maintain social distancing.
