Al Dhafra Festival: everything you need to know about Abu Dhabi event on Bedouin life

Until January 22, the festival will hold camel beauty pageants and other competitions while showcasing Emirati heritage, crafts and food

Caretakers walking the camels for milking at Al Dhafra Festival in Madinat Zayed, in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Alia Obaid, 8, from Madinat Zayed has a love for falcons and trains with them often at Al Dhafra Festival.

Visitors during the Al Dhafra Festival at Madinat Zayed.

A woman selling items at her stall.

Women stand outside a stall with a photo of Sheikh Zayed in the background.

One of the stalls where people can shop for Emirati goods.

Local Bedouin women making traditional handicrafts.

Al Dhafra Festival runs until January 22.

Al Dhafra Festival offers an authentic Emirati heritage experience and will host Bedouin cultural events.

Stalls selling traditional clothes, scents, handicrafts, and food items at the festival.

In the festival's milking camel contest, the camels are judged by the weight of the milk they produce.

Milk collected during the milking camel contest is poured into a container.

An amount of milk collected is measured as part of the milking camel contest.

Camel 'beauty pageants' are held daily during the Al Dhafra Festival.

Camels being trained for running.

Camels are lined up for the 'beauty pageant' that takes place every day.

Participating camels at Al Dhafra Festival.

Caretakers walking the camels through the desert at Madinat Zayed.

A car follows camels being walked by a caretaker at the site of Al Dhafra Festival.

A bukhoor seller in her stall.

A woman selling different perfumes at Al Dhafra Festival.

Al Dhafra Festival, known as "the greatest showcase of Bedouin lifestyle" anywhere in the world, is now under way in Abu Dhabi.

Each year, about 25,000 camels and their entourages descend on this remote area on the edge of the Empty Quarter for what can only be described as a beauty pageant for camels. It’s easy to spot the winning camels because their faces will be smeared with a red paste made from saffron. In July, it was announced that the total prize fund had also increased to Dh110 million ($30m), across 2,937 categories.

So if you're looking to visit Al Dhafra Festival, here is everything you need to know.

What is there to see and do?

In addition to camels, there's also a traditional souq. Here, you can learn about traditional Emirati crafts, such as Sadu (weaving cotton and wool), Telli (embroidery) and Khous (weaving palm fronds), and sample famous Emirati dishes. And there will be no shortage of things to buy.

There are also ongoing competitions throughout Al Dhafra Festival, including for classic cars, salukis, falcons, Arabian horses, handicrafts and dates. There's truly, something for everyone.

When and where is the festival taking place?

Al Dhafra Festival runs just south of Madinat Zayed in Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi. The event started on Wednesday and runs until Saturday, January 22. Events are scheduled to take place from 10am until 10pm, although celebrations and preparations happen around the clock.

Where can I stay?

Al Dhafrah is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Abu Dhabi city. However, with the cooler temperatures, a lot of fun can be had around the festival’s campfires after dark, so it is worth spending the night.

Most hotels in the area, including Tilal Liwa Hotel, Western Hotel – Madinat Zayed, and Liwa Hotel get booked up early, but camping is open to all. Do not expect a quiet retreat, however.

Al Dhafra is a social gathering. Bring extra food and get your coffee pot ready to welcome guests. Alternatively, be prepared to accept many invitations to tea.

The festival is predominantly a man’s world, but women are welcome everywhere. Women can camp in a designated family section near the traditional market and use washroom facilities at the on-site Tilal Liwa Hotel. Both men and women must dress conservatively at the festival.