Al Dhafra Festival 2026–2027

Al Dhafra Festival 2026–27 returns as the 20th edition of one of Abu Dhabi's major heritage events, with the Camel Mazayna Season running from 27 October 2026 to 13 January 2027.

The festival celebrates the UAE's Desert Heritage through camel beauty competitions, traditional activities, heritage competitions and community experiences. The 2026–27 season is organised across five stages, giving visitors opportunities to experience different parts of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Al Dhafra Region during the festival period.

For travellers interested in Emirati culture, camel traditions, desert heritage and Abu Dhabi's regional festivals, Al Dhafra Festival offers a chance to experience these traditions in a live festival environment rather than only through museums or exhibitions.

Event Details

What Is Al Dhafra Festival?

Al Dhafra Festival is a major Emirati heritage event centred on Camel Mazayna, the traditional camel beauty competition.

The 2026 edition includes five Camel Mazayna stages across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, alongside heritage competitions, traditional markets and other activities connected with UAE desert culture.

The festival is particularly relevant for visitors who want to see an important part of the UAE's living heritage and understand the cultural role of camels, traditional competitions and desert communities.

Al Dhafra Festival 2026–27 Dates and Stages

The 20th edition is organised as a five-stage season:

Sweihan Camel Mazayna

27 October – 3 November 2026

The festival season opens in Sweihan with the first Camel Mazayna stage.

Razeen Camel Mazayna

15 – 22 November 2026

The second stage moves to Razeen, continuing the camel beauty competitions.

Madinat Zayed Stage

3 – 10 December 2026

The third stage takes place in Madinat Zayed, bringing the festival deeper into the Al Dhafra Region.

Al Dhafra Festival Finale

12 – 19 December 2026

The fourth stage forms the main festival finale programme and includes additional heritage competitions and activities.

Elite Rounds – Al Romooz

3 – 12 January 2027

The fifth and final stage concludes the Camel Mazayna season with the Elite Rounds.

Important: The overall official season is listed as 27 October 2026 to 13 January 2027, while the individual competition stages have their own specific dates.

What Can Visitors See at Al Dhafra Festival?

The festival's main attraction is the Camel Mazayna, where camels are presented and judged according to established categories and competition criteria.

Alongside the camel competitions, the 2026–27 programme includes a broad selection of heritage activities.

Visitors can expect activities connected with:

• Camel heritage and traditional competitions
• Falconry
• Arabian horse activities
• Arabian Saluki competitions
• Camel milking
• Traditional crafts and cultural activities
• Heritage markets
• Traditional food and community experiences
• Family-oriented activities
• Cultural performances and heritage programmes

The final stage also includes competitions involving falconry, camel milking, Arabian horse racing, Arabian Saluki racing, Falcon Mazayna, Saluki Mazayna, sheep beauty competitions and other heritage activities.

Camel Mazayna at Al Dhafra Festival

Camel Mazayna is at the heart of the festival.

The 2026 edition introduces 22 new competition rounds, bringing the total number of camel competition rounds to 383 across the season. The new rounds cover additional camel categories and age groups.

For visitors, this provides an opportunity to see the importance of camel culture within Emirati heritage and understand why camel competitions remain a significant part of traditional festivals in Abu Dhabi.

Al Dhafra Traditional Market

The Al Dhafra Traditional Market is another important part of the festival experience.

During the final stage, the market hosts accompanying heritage competitions and activities, creating a setting where visitors can experience traditional culture alongside the main festival programme.

Visitors interested in UAE heritage can use the market and surrounding festival activities to experience traditional crafts, local cultural practices and community-focused events.

Is Al Dhafra Festival Suitable for Tourists?

Yes. Al Dhafra Festival is particularly interesting for travellers who want to experience a different side of Abu Dhabi beyond the city's major urban attractions.

It can appeal to:

• International tourists interested in Emirati heritage
• Families looking for cultural experiences
• Visitors interested in camel traditions
• Photography enthusiasts
• Desert and outdoor travellers
• People interested in UAE history and traditions
• Travellers visiting the Al Dhafra Region

Because the festival takes place across different locations and stages, visitors should check the relevant date and venue before planning their trip.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Al Dhafra Festival?

The festival takes place during the cooler part of the UAE year, from late October through January.

For visitors, morning and late afternoon into evening can be comfortable periods for outdoor activities, although the exact programme and timings vary by stage and competition.

If you are specifically interested in a particular competition, it is better to plan your visit around that competition's published schedule rather than relying only on the overall festival dates.

How to Plan Your Visit

Al Dhafra Festival is different from a single-location city event because its 2026–27 Camel Mazayna Season is divided between several locations.

Before travelling, visitors should check:

• The specific festival stage
• Competition date
• Location
• Daily programme
• Activity timings
• Visitor access information
• Any registration requirements for participant-only activities

The official festival information and Falak Al Namoos platform should be checked for the latest competition announcements and event-specific updates.

Al Dhafra Festival vs Al Dhafra Dates Festival

There is another event with a very similar name that visitors should not confuse with the main Al Dhafra Festival.

The Al Dhafra Dates Festival is a separate seasonal event focused on dates, palm cultivation, date competitions, auctions, honey and related agricultural and heritage activities. Its fifth edition is scheduled for 16–25 October 2026 in Madinat Zayed.

The event also includes a daily dates auction, date competitions, honey categories, cooking with dates, photography, live painting, workshops and family-oriented heritage activities.

Therefore, someone searching specifically for Al Dhafra Festival should be directed to the main Camel Mazayna and heritage festival information on this page, while Al Dhafra Dates Festival should ideally have its own dedicated event page.

Experience Al Dhafra With Captain Dunes

Planning a trip to Abu Dhabi during the Al Dhafra Festival 2026–27?

Captain Dunes can help you include the festival in a wider UAE travel itinerary. Depending on your schedule, you can combine your visit with Abu Dhabi sightseeing, desert experiences, Liwa Oasis and other UAE tours.

This can be particularly useful for visitors who want to experience both the cultural side of Abu Dhabi and the landscapes of the Al Dhafra desert region.

Share your travel dates with Captain Dunes to plan your Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra experience around the festival schedule.

Al Dhafra Festival 2026–27: What to Know

The 20th Al Dhafra Festival begins on 27 October 2026 and the five-stage Camel Mazayna Season continues through 13 January 2027. The programme combines camel competitions with heritage activities and traditional markets across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Al Dhafra Region.

For the most accurate visit planning, check the latest official schedule before travelling because individual competitions and activities have separate dates and locations.