Thousands of camel owners are expected to register their camels in a beauty contest, in what is being billed as the world’s largest camel beauty competition.
The contest, known as mazayna, is to take place in Madinat Zayed in the Western Region as part of the eighth edition of Al Dhafra Festival. The festival runs from 20th December to 1st January 2015.
The festival is organised by a 200-strong Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee.
The director of the camel beauty contest – imagine that title on your business card – is Mohammed Bin Adhed Al Muhairi. He said: “The committee decided to add two rounds this year, one open to sheikhs, the other to tribal people. The ten most beautiful asayil and majaheem – the most important breeds of camels – will be selected.”
Asayil camels originally came from the UAE and Oman, while the majaheem descended from the najd breed in Saudi Arabia and are characterised by dark or black fur. Experts classify camel contest participants according to age and colour, among other criteria.
Al Muhairi said this year’s event will attract unprecedented attention, particularly from members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as it coincides with school and university holidays.
To increase participation, Al Muhairi said the committee has allocated 150 new camel huts compared to last year and created new roads. Logistical support teams will also provide feed and water for participating camel caravans from the Al Ghuwaifat border crossing to the festival venue.
Al Muhairi said: “There are 14 activities organised as part of the festival. The camel beauty contest, which will have a total of 72 rounds for asayil and majaheem, has attracted the attention of international media. But there will also be races involving Arabian horses, heritage camels and Saluki dogs, a camel auction and competitions for photography and crafts, classic cars, camel milking and falcons, as well as the best dates and best dates packaging methods. There will be a traditional market and children’s village as well.”
Prizes for the festival’s 15 competitions include 225 cars and exceed AED 55 million, which Al Muhairi expects will attract new UAE national faces, particularly in the individual asayil races. UAE citizens have more asayil compared with participants from neighbouring countries so they’re expected to qualify higher in the festival races.
Increasing the number of rounds and cash prizes will strengthen the competitions according to Al Muhairi, who confirmed more Saudi racers in this year’s majaheem category.
There were 70 camel beauty rounds at the sixth edition of the festival in 2012, up from 56 in 2011 and 42 in 2010.
The committee’s project manager, Abdullah Butti Al Qubaisi, said the team strives to develop the festival activities to attract tourists as well as domestic visitors.
Al Qubaisi said: “Al Dhafra Festival has witnessed years of success since its first session in 2008. In a short time, the festival has become a regional and global event, which celebrates the original Bedouin spirit. It has become a unique cultural and heritage event which strengthens the link between past and present UAE citizens.”
