Al Dhafra Festival 2026: the 20th edition starts on 27 October
Five stages of camel mazayna run until January, with more than AED97 million in prizes.
The 20th Al Dhafra Festival begins on 27 October under the patronage of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Abu Dhabi Media Office announced. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, it is part of the camel mazayna season, which runs until 13 January 2027, with prize money of more than AED97 million.
The festival has five stages. Sweihan Camel Mazayna opens the season from 27 October to 3 November, followed by Razeen from 15 to 22 November and Madinat Zayed from 3 to 10 December. The festival finale, with cash prize rounds, runs from 12 to 19 December, and the elite rounds, known as Al Romooz, close the season from 3 to 12 January.
In total there are 383 camel competition rounds, 22 of them new this year, including rounds for Asayel crossbreds, Wadh and Al Jamal camels. The camel beauty contests alone carry AED92.6 million in prizes.
The finale also brings heritage competitions to the Al Dhafra Traditional Market: falconry, camel milking, Saktoun rifle shooting, purebred Arabian horse racing, saluki racing, falcon and saluki mazayna, a sheep mazayna, a Shillat poetry contest and tea competitions.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office, WAM
