US envoy visits Al Dhafra festival
ABU DHABI: US Ambassador to the UAE John Rakolta Jr. visited the 14th Al Dhafra Festival, taking place in Medinat Zayed, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The US Ambassador, who was accompanied by his wife, toured the festival and expressed admiration at the Festival’s activities held as part of the event.
The festival features traditional contests, races and events celebrating Emirati heritage.
According to a recent report, the 14th edition of Al Dhafra Festival, the greatest celebration of Bedouin lifestyle, will be held from 5th November 2020 to 29th January 2021 in Medinat Zayed, Dhafra Region, said the organisers the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Commitee in Abu Dhabi. The commitee affirmed that all preventive and precautionary measures against COVID-19 will be in place for the safety and wellbeing of participants and guests.
Major General Fares Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Commitee, said the traditional, folkloric and handicrat events at the festival reflect the legacy of the UAE’S Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in preserving the country’s culture, heritage and identity.
Eisa Saif Al Mazrouei, Vice Chairman of the commitee, noted that at the heart of this year’s exceptional edition are the Mazayna (competition) camel beauty contests that focus on the purebred camels from the Asayel (pedigree) and Majaheem (dark-skinned) lineages, falconry contests, the 2500 metre Arabian saluki race, purebred Arabian horse race, sheep beauty contest, and shooting competition.
This year’s festival will not organise the traditional souq and its associated events to ensure the health of the public, he explained.
Speaking about precautionary measures, he said race tracks and competition sites will be sanitised daily while festival staff, juries and participants must present a negative COVID-19 test, wear face masks and gloves, and maintain social distancing.