Offering an insight into Emirati traditions, Al Dhafra Festival is an annual highlight on the UAE capital’s cultural calendar. Set in Abu Dhabi’s remote western region, the two-week festival, running from December 9 to 24, features several events that celebrate local heritage. Visitors can look forward to camel auctions and races, the ever-popular camel beauty contest, traditional falconry displays, the dates competition, saluki shows, horse races, poetry recitals and folk music. Embodying the spirit of the desert Bedouin, the festival offers a glimpse into the essence of life in the UAE before the discovery of oil.
