Al Dhafra Festival: Of camels and prizes

With their eyes on the valuable prizes, and despite the tough competition, the owners geared up for the different laps through buying the best camels available and seeking to strike the best deals.

Camel Mazayna is not only about passion and Bedouin tradition, but it’s also a good business opportunity that many dream to seize and make the best profits out of it.

“This is our sixth participation in Al Dhafra Festival. We didn’t miss any of the editions. Our occupation goes back to hundreds and hundreds of years ago. We inherited this love and care for camels from our ancestors. Today, we are more than keen on the preservation of this tradition and its transmission to younger generations,” said Ahmad bin Bakhit Al Menhali.

An owner of a herd, comprising 50 Majahim camels (Black camels that originate from Saudi Arabia), Al Menhali spoke of the main features that characterise Majahim and make them special among other camel categories.

“Majahim are bigger in size, and renowned for being among the milkiest categories of camels. They are also affectionate and closer to man,” he said.

Al Menhali hailed the good organisation of the festival, and spoke of the significance of the event that bestows extraordinary and valuable business opportunities upon camel-owners from the UAE, and the neighbouring countries.

“What makes the Al Dhafra Festival special is the large participation of owners from all the GCC countries, the abundance of camels and the high value of the various prizes, which include 170 cars and about 8 million cash awards,” he said.

“The biggest deal I secured this year was the sale of a Majahim camel for Dh9 million. We need festivals and events like the Camel Mazayna of Al Dhafra Festival to take care for our expenses. We do spend a lot on the camels as we move more than 1000 kilometres in the desert in search of pasture. We also need to feed and keep the camels clean and healthy. There are a lot of expenses that may reach about Dh40,000 monthly,” he added.

Al Menhali also noted that the festival was one of the most significant events of its kind because of its ability to create and strengthen relations between camel-owners in the UAE and the neighbouring countries.

“If it weren’t for Mazayna, we wouldn’t have met. Camel Mazayna has succeeded in bringing people together, and stimulating our business,” he stressed.

“We have camels that we won’t sell for anything in the world because they’re still young. Camel Mazayna is about business, but it is also about passion, and camel offspring and breed. One the best and most distinguished breeds is Al Guaouda,” he added.

Another camel-owner, Salem Aswad Barouss Al Ameri was one of the participants in the Talad laps for local Assayel. He noted that this tradition is transmitted from father to son, and hoped he would succeed in preserving and passing on his passion for camels to the younger generations in his family.

The Camel Mazayna and Al Dhafra Festival in general contribute to the protection and the preservation of good breeds through the constant encouragement of camel-owners.”

Speaking of Assayel in particular, and camels in general, Al Ameri’s passion was felt in his words. “Camels are at the centre of Bedouin life. They have many qualities such as the patience, the hard work, the beauty and the softness. We use them to carry water, and wood. They are also the best means of transport in the arid desert environment. They provide milk, meat, and tolerate the low and high temperatures,” he said.