UAE – Western Region: Salem Al Mazroui Al DHafra Festival project Manger camel mazayana which is organized by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage in the Western Region stated that the festival has contributed in buying and selling operations of the unique and candidate to win camels.

He added that the highest price offered for the camels that participated in the competitions this year was for Obied Breiman Al Ameri, who was offered 9 million for his 2 years old naqah (female camel) , but Obied refused to sell..

Another Naqah owned by Hafeez Al Mazrouei was sold for 7.5 million Dirhams and this would be the highest selling price in the mazyana festival during the first 2 days. Also Hamdan Alfalahi was offered 16 million dirhams to sell his 2 Naqah but the offer was rejected by Hamdan.

The highest record price that was paid for a naqah was last year at the fourth Al Dhafra Mazayana festival, when Shiekh Sultan Bin Hamdan bought Karam Al Menhali’s naqah for 15 million dirhams.

 This was announced during the press conference that was held at Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage media center at Tilal Liwa hotel, in the presences of local, regional and global media .

Al Mazrouie stated during the conference that the main aim of the festival is to implement   High Commissioner of the senior leadership guidance by supporting the camel owners in the Arabian Peninsula in general and UAE in particular and to work on it’s development as one of the most important symbols national history reminding that the fathers and grandfathers history was related and attached to camels and palm trees, which are a part of the main component for the people of the region, and unless we seek to preserve them, we will an important part of our heritage and traditions

Salem Al Mazroui said that he has prepared a study on the reality of Al Dhafra Festival and its implications on the economic aspects in the western region and that this study has shown that the economic returns of expenses spent on the festival will benefit the area with an  interest rate seven and a half times , which  proofs the wise vision of the leadership of the country, led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and the Crown Prince his Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Supreme Commander of the armed Forces of the guidance to set up this traditional festival which has become a feature of this region, that attracts participants and visitors from different countries of the world ,and that reflects positively on the economic life from all aspects like: restaurants, accomodation, jobs opportunities and the construction requirements of the festival..

He also revealed that the success of the festival is reflected in the high value of the prizes for the winners of that increase this year to 42 million dirhams especially for the Mazayana and the dates packaging competition and the rest of the heritage competitions associated with the festival.

Al Mazroui also stated that the participating of new countries in this year’s festival, like Yemen and Jordan. As well as the significant rise in the rate of participation of Omanis and Saudis emphasizes that. As well as very high numbers of participants with more than 1,300 participants while the number of camels’ participation to more than 20 thousand camels.

The Festival was benefited from the questionnaire which was distributed to participants by the end of the 4 years festivals in order to know their opinions and suggestions. The festival director announced that the festival had an extra period for Tlad category (born and raised camels) and also an increase in Al Dhafra and al bayrak periods for the local Asayel and Majahim. And also an increase in the number of seats assigned to the VIP In addition to increasing the number of the referees Committee to ten persons, and adopt a random system that determines the daily 5 members of them that will screen and determine the ten camels candidates that are qualified to win, while the other 5 referees will take the decisions on the final winners.

The Mazrouei insisted that all participants are welcome to participate in this (camel beauty contest) Mazayna Al Dhafra as long as they apply to the Majahim and Asayel catagories. These camels are originally from UAE and Oman, while Majahim originally from Saudi Arabia. He added some participants from USA started their competition by purchasing a camel and this is allowed.

Al Mazroui expressed his appreciation for the local, regional and global media who provided the best coverage for the festival and reflected a positive image about the festival and its activities among public.