ABU DHABI: The total value of awards of the Al Dhafra Festival which will be held next December were increased to AED 46 million, chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the festival Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei announced.
The six edition of the festival will be organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) between 15-29 December in Madinat Zayed, Al-Gharbia (Western Region), Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of His Highness Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Al Mazrouei, who is also Advisor for Culture and Heritage at the Court of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and a board member of TCA, said the number of camel beauty competitions will be increased from to 70 in the forthcoming edition of the event, up from 56 races in the 2011 edition. A palm date beauty competition will also be held for the first time at the festival which provides an occasion for the revival of national heritage. Features of the event include the traditional market, date packaging and photography competitions. Al Mazrouei thanked President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces for their support to heritage preservation effortsActivities of the festival include Mazayna Al Dhafra (camel beauty contest), dates packaging competition, falcon competition, saluki competition, heritage camel racing, camel auctions, camel milking competition, handicrafts competition, photography competition, heritage marketand the children's village.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2012.
