The 20th Al Dhafra Festival Begins Tomorrow, Celebrating Camel Heritage Across Five Stages
The venerable Al Dhafra Festival returns for its twentieth edition, commencing with the Suwaihan Mazayna and unfolding across five stages through January, featuring 383 camel beauty competition rounds and nearly AED100 million in prizes.
Tomorrow, the Suwaihan region of Al Ain will welcome the opening round of one of Abu Dhabi’s most significant cultural celebrations. The 20th Al Dhafra Festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, begins with the Suwaihan Mazayna, running from 27th October to 3rd November 2026, bringing together camel enthusiasts, breeders and competitors in a meticulously structured series of beauty competitions that honour the profound connection between Emirati culture and these magnificent animals.
This inaugural stage will feature 82 competition rounds across four primary categories: 38 for Local Asayel, 32 for Majaheem, nine for Asayel Hybrids and three for Wadh. The prizes total AED9.955 million across 775 individual awards. The festival introduces six new competition categories this year, expanding the Asayel Hybrids and Wadh divisions with fresh rounds in Mafruda, Haqqa and Laqya classifications, reflecting the evolving landscape of camel breeding excellence in the Emirates.
Beyond the competition itself, the Suwaihan venue transforms into a canvas of heritage. A traditional market unfolds alongside the Mazayna, hosting dozens of merchants offering authentic Emirati crafts and products. The market celebrates the role of traditional craftsmanship in preserving cultural identity, whilst food trucks and contemporary entrepreneurial ventures add texture to the experience, creating a gathering that honours both ancestral traditions and contemporary vitality.
The festival will unfold across five distinct stages stretching into the new year. The Razeen Mazayna follows from 15th to 22nd November with 82 rounds and AED9.955 million in prizes. The third stage moves to Madinat Zayed from 3rd to 10th December, featuring 88 rounds and AED10.735 million in awards. A fourth stage of cash prize rounds runs from 12th to 19th December with 66 rounds and AED20.56 million in prizes. The final Al Ramooz rounds continue from 3rd to 12th January 2027, offering 65 rounds and AED46.772 million in prizes.
Across the entire festival, 383 camel beauty competition rounds will showcase purebred bloodlines cultivated over generations. The combined prize pool reaches AED97.248 million, underscoring the substantial investment in preserving this cornerstone of Emirati heritage. As we reported previously, these celebrations remain central to how Abu Dhabi honours its cultural champions.
The Al Dhafra Festival serves a purpose that extends far beyond competition. It anchors the preservation of purebred camel bloodlines, safeguards cultural and folk traditions, and supports the community of camel owners, falconry enthusiasts and devotees of Arabian horses and traditional competitions. These efforts reinforce national identity and promote authentic Emirati values to new generations.
Participants can engage with the festival through the Falak Al Namoos application, which facilitates registration for competition rounds, provides access to announcements and the comprehensive festival guide detailing participation rules, prize structures and camel entry schedules.
What it means for Abu Dhabi
The Al Dhafra Festival stands as one of Abu Dhabi’s most significant annual cultural events, drawing competitors and enthusiasts from across the Emirates and beyond. The scale of investment in prizes and the breadth of competition categories reflect the importance this festival holds in preserving Emirati heritage and reinforcing the values that define the nation’s cultural identity.
The festival’s extended calendar, spanning from October through January, provides a substantial platform for cultural celebration and economic activity. The traditional markets, food offerings and entrepreneurial ventures create opportunities for artisans and small businesses to engage with visitors during a season rich with cultural significance, whilst the emphasis on camel breeding excellence continues to support a community whose stewardship of these animals remains integral to Emirati tradition and national pride.
Source: WAM (26th October 2026)