€£$
по-русскиen Español (pronto)
enter
1511things to do
in the world
117things to do
in Emirates
27things to do
in Abu Dhabi

Watch camel beauty contestin Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

#20of 27 things to doin Abu Dhabi

Oddviser

adventure's step-by-step
recipes & lifehacks
How to ride a board on volcano in Nicaragua?How to walk inside the active volcano in Greece?How to feed flying dogs in the jungles of Thailand?How to cycle along the Great Wall of China?How to swim in the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome?How to ride a kayak along the canals of Venice?How to walk on the roofs of skyscrapers in Dubai?
Join usit's more fun together :)
Once a year, the most beautiful camels from the countries of the Persian Gulf and South Africa gather here.
How to watch camel beauty contest in Abu Dhabi
Arabs are very fond of camels, who used to be as a transport and saved them from hunger. Since 1999, in Abu Dhabi, the Al Dhafra Festival has been taking place annually, in which they choose the 10 best camel-dromedaries. Every year the number of participants increases. And if there were about 30 thousand of them earlier, in 2017 — it`s up to 50 thousand camels.

The winners are chosen by the jury selected by the government. They determine the winners and award titles to them. The owners of these handsome creatures receive cars and money – from 18,000 to 30,000 dirhams as gifts.

Camel, Abu Dhabi

How to do?

1. The camel beauty contest takes place near the city of Madinat Zayed, 150 km from Abu Dhabi. To get here, rent a car and drive along Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street. Then turn to Al Ain Truck Road, and then - to Abu Dabi Tarif Road. Then turn to Tarif-Liva Road and it will lead you to Madinat Zayed.

2. The appearance of participants is evaluated at the qualifying stage. The camel should be stately, with a large symmetrical hump, large mustaches, chubby cheeks, broad neck and firm ears. The best camels of light breed Asayel and the dark one — Majahim are chosen separately.

The second stage is camel racing. 10 participants, who сome first, are the winners of the beauty contest.

Camel races, Abu Dhabi
Photo: Camel races

3. The absolute winners have their head and neck marked with a red paint made of saffron and other herbs. The audience greet them with a round of applause.

The winner of the contest, Abu Dhabi
Photo: The winner of the contest

When to do?

It takes place every year on December 14-27.

Tips and hints

At the festival you can also ride a camel and buy souvenirs made of camel wool.

Reviews

Guest29 March 2024

More things to do in Abu Dhabi

Kickstart your crypto portfolioStart Your Crypto Adventure!advertisement

Click on the link to kickstart your crypto portfolio and get 100 USDT trading fee rebate!

+100 USDTEarth
#13Take a boat ride alongh the mangroves in Abu DhabiTake a boat ride alongh the mangrovesoddviser

Take a boat trip along the "green island" of Abu Dhabi. It's hard to believe, but it's situated next to the center.

200Eastern Mangrove Lagoon
#26Go up the Falling tower in Abu DhabiGo up the Falling towerMickey Collins

A skyscraper Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi is called the Falling Tower. Its slope is 4.5 times more than a slope of Pisan Tower.

45The Capital Gate
#4See Yowla dance in Abu DhabiSee Yowla danceoddviser

Yowla is traditionally performed by men in snow-white dresses - kanduras. The dance symbolizes the unity and togetherness of the emirates.

FREEQasr Al Hosn fort
#15Try dragon boating in Abu DhabiTry dragon boatingoddviser

Try your hand at paddling in a team of 20 people on a boat, stylized as a dragon.

FREECapital Dragons Organization
#5Visit the Date Festival in Abu DhabiVisit the Date Festivaloddviser

Appreciate the taste of two hundred varieties of dates at the picturesque and really grand event the Date Festival in Liwa oasis.

FREELiwa oasis
#2Dive with dugongs in Abu DhabiDive with dugongsEugene Krasowski

A great number of sea cows graze on the underwater meadow of the Persian Gulf. The locals call them sirens and sea brides. They are safe here.

FREEDugong sanctuary
#17Take a bike ride along the Corniche promenade in Abu DhabiTake a bike ride along the Corniche promenadeoddviser

Rent a bicycle and ride along one of the longest seafront promenades in the Middle East.

30The Corniche
#19Drive over Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu DhabiDrive over Sheikh Zayed Bridgeoddviser

This bridge is an architectural masterpiece, for which designers were awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

FREESheikh Zayed Bridge
#7Try pearl diving in Abu DhabiTry pearl divingoddviser

The attraction is located in the Yas Waterworld and has no analogues in the world. You will try yourself as a pearl diver.

149Yas Waterworld Waterpark
#12Get gold from an ATM in Abu DhabiGet gold from an ATMNika

This ATM gives real 24-carat gold bars and gift coins with an exclusive design.

133Emirates Palace Hotel
#3Take safari on Sir Bani Yas in Abu DhabiTake safari on Sir Bani Yasoddviser

On a safari on Sir Bani Yas you will meet rare animals and birds face to face - cheetahs, Arabian oryxes, giraffes and many others.

280
Know more things to do?Guest

Share your ideas of what to do in Abu Dhabi with other travellers — together we'll make our travellings more interesting!