Al Dhafra Festival Returns to Abu Dhabi on October 27th

The 19th edition of the Al Dhafra Festival will take place in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region, celebrating Emirati culture through camel competitions, date auctions, traditional crafts, and folk performances. The festival runs from October 27th 2025 to January 22nd 2026, forming part of the wider Camel Mazayna season.

Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, this year’s event features 17 heritage contests, including camel beauty and milking competitions, falconry, Arabian horse races, and traditional craft exhibitions. Participants are competing for 4,800 prizes, with total awards surpassing AED 94.4 million.

The festival’s creative programme includes an artisan market where local craftspeople showcase palm-frond art, pottery, and textile works that combine traditional techniques with contemporary design. The dates auction also continues to draw significant attention, with premium Zamli varieties fetching up to AED 2,500 per box and daily sales exceeding AED 360,000.