ABU DHABI: Tilal Liwa Hotel, a secluded hideaway leisure hotel perched on the edge of Rub Al Khali Desert in Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter, celebrates the much-awaited Al Dhafra Camel Festival by hosting an Ambassador’s lunch.
General Manager Khaled Sharabassy welcomed the representatives of consulates and embassies in the UAE who attended the lunch upon the invitation of the Ruler’s Representative Court in Al Dhafra Region. The VIP guests were given a tour of Al Dhafra Festival’s Millions Street where the annual festival was held. They experienced authentic Arabian heritage showcased by art, handicrafts, dates and were briefed about the activities during the annual event.
After the tour, they were escorted back to the hotel to enjoy a sumptuous lunch featuring a rich spread of local and Emirati cuisine, with live cooking stations, refreshing beverages and delicious desserts.
“The Al Dhafra Festival celebrates the traditions and cultures of the UAE. We look forward to this festival every year which gives people an opportunity to express their love for the country. The culture, heritage and traditions of the UAE are very much part of the daily life in the Al Dhafra region so an excellent way to promote this is by inviting the members of the different countries to experience it themselves. We are honoured to be hosting the delegates to this prestigious event and we hope that this will further increase their knowledge of the UAE’s rich heritage,” said Sharabassy.
The Al Dhafra Festival is filled with cultural and traditional extravaganza. The 15-day event will feature a series of competitions and contest in which winners are awarded with millions of dirhams in cash prizes and brand new cars. The competitions include camel beauty contest, falcons, dates, community traditional dresses, archery, dates packaging, lambs, sour camel milk, poetry and classic cars. A total of Dh38 million cash prizes including vehicles will be awarded to 1,400 competition winners.
Set in the dunes outside Madinat Zayed, the festival began last December 14 with a milking competition, a classic car competition at the festival’s traditional market and a shooting competition.
More than 20,000 camels are expected to participate in the festival’s camel mazayna (beauty) competitions, which will award more than Dh30 million in cash prizes. They will mostly come from the UAE, but also from other GCC countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.
Situated within 3 minutes from the Al Dhafra Festival, Tilal Liwa Hotel is an elegant retreat for those seeking a unique desert experience and the true spirit of Arabia. The 111 stylish rooms at Tilal Liwa Hotel reflect the hues and natural colours of the desert with fabrics and soft furnishings complementing the textures of the natural landscape.
