(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Baynounah Camel Festival organised by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee of Abu Dhabi is taking place in the desert surroundings of Madinat Zayed from tomorrow to November 13.
Abu Dhabi: Ahead of the international Al Dhafra camel festival near Liwa at the end of December this year Abu Dhabi emirate’s Western Region residents have a smaller camel beauty show to enjoy.
The Baynounah Camel Festival organised by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee of Abu Dhabi is taking place in the desert surroundings of Madinat Zayed from tomorrow to November 13.
Exclusively opened to Emirati camel owners the festival is expecting several hundred camels to take part in the beauty show competing for one of the 280 awards for different categories and rounds totalling Dh4 million in cash prizes.
“The Baynounah Camel Mazayna attracts a huge number of camel owners who come to compete for the valuable prizes and shed light on entrenched sports” said Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei Culture and Heritage advisor to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Court and chairman of the committee.According to him the camel mazayna (beauty competitions) had been organised in the Arab Gulf since the dawn of time.
“They are considered some of the most important heritage festivals that globalisation and urbanisation failed to remove from our lives” he further stressed. The Baynounah Camel Festival enjoys the support of 11 official and state bodies and institutions that work toward providing all help needed to achieve the objectives of the mazayna.
These objectives are the preservation of Emirati traditions and lifestyle but also the economic aspect of such a festival encouraging Western Region population to continue the camel farming one of the few source of income in villages around here.
A number of Emirati individuals and organisations have donated substantial money for the winners. They are Khamis Mohammed Al Sheddi Al Mansouri Salem Eidah Al Buqami Ali Salem bin Haiai Al Mansouri Mohammed Salem bin Haiai Al Mansouri Mohammed Bakheet bin Tanaf Al Menhali Tristar Engineering and Construction Company and the Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Company (GASCO) - Habshan Complex.
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