A camel beauty pageant? It happens only in Abu Dhabi

We all have heard and seen weird things happening, but ever heard of a camel beauty contest? Yes, you read that right! Every year, the UAE hosts the Al Dhafra Festival in Abu Dhabi. The festival is also the greatest showcase of Bedouin lifestyle in the world. Nearly 25000 camels take part in this beauty pageant every year.

Where is it held?
In its 15th year now, Al Dhafra Festival began on December 14 and will run until December 23 in Madinet Zayed in Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi. During this unique event, camel owners will make and exchange millions of dirhams.
What to expect?

First thing first, all the participating camels are first tested by medical and screening committees. The much-awaited festival began in the early hours and there were 65 valuable prizes for the winning camels. Contestants at the beauty pageant will be judged on their physical attributes and only purebred camels from the Asayel and Majaheem bloodlines are allowed to participate.
Prize money for the four camel beauty pageants will total $30 million (AED110 million). The prize money was earlier increased by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed to promote the United Arab Emirates’ Bedouin heritage.

Auctions and private sales will also be organised for the purebred camels. There will be falconry competitions as well and some 300 Arabian horse, camel, and saluki races will also be held during the festival.

Apparently, camel beauty pageants are becoming common across Gulf states. These festivals promise to preserve the cultural heritage of the people and place.