Camels take part in a beauty contest at Al Dhafra Festival 2013.

Gulf News

Camels take part in a beauty contest at Al Dhafra Festival 2013. The world's only camel beauty contest is held at Al Dhafra Festival in Madinat Zayed located in the Western Region of the UAE. See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv

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00:00They had come from all over the GCC to take part in the Mazaina Al Dhafra, the world's

00:27only camel beauty contest.

00:31This is the 7th edition of the Al Dhafra festival which began on December 14.

00:35The objective is to provide a glimpse of the Bedouin way of life and to safeguard UAE's

00:41proud heritage.

00:44The entire area wears a festive look with UAE flags lined up on both sides of the path

00:49that leads to the main contest area.

00:52This is also a time to make brisk business for these traders who bring trucks loaded

00:56with fodder for the camels and piles of wood to ward off bitter cold.

01:01Participating camels go through various competitive laps.

01:05They are paraded in front of a judging panel during which the most beautiful camels are

01:09picked according to the length and the height of their neck, the size of their head, the

01:14shape of their nose, the straightness of their legs, the shape and location of the hump and

01:18the width of the upper part of the chest.

01:21The total prize kitty for Al Dhafra festival, now in its 7th edition, is Dirham's 46 million.

01:28Seated among the spectators are the camel owners who keep a close watch on the day's

01:33proceedings.

01:34The festival also gets visits from UAE schools.

01:37Pupils are given a brief insight in the event by festival volunteers.

01:48Once the judging is over, the enclosed area is thrown open for visitors for a photo opportunity

01:53before they could move on to the traditional market which is held under the slogan 100%

01:58Emirati 100% Handmade.

02:01The objective is to preserve and promote traditional Emirati handcrafts.

02:05The festival at Al Dhafra serves as a link between old and the new generation.

02:10It serves as a podium to revive and strengthen the national feeling in the hearts of the

02:14younger generations.

02:15The 7th edition of the festival comes to a close on December 28, 2013.

02:21Sunita Menon, Gulf News.

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