Al Dhafra Festival
Al Dhafra Festival takes place Dec 2026 (main Madinat Zayed stage; wider stages run Oct 2026 - Jan 2027) in Madinat Zayed, UAE. The dress code is Modest, respectful desert dress covering shoulders and knees; warm layer for cool nights. Free to attend; budget up to 300 EUR per person for hospitality and extras.
A Bedouin heritage festival in Abu Dhabi's remote Al Dhafra region, centred on the Mazayna camel beauty pageant where prize animals change hands for enormous sums. Around the camels run falconry, saluki racing, date competitions and a traditional souk - a rare, uncommercialized window into Emirati desert culture.
- When
- Dec 2026 (main Madinat Zayed stage; wider stages run Oct 2026 - Jan 2027)
- Where
- Madinat Zayed, UAE
- Dress code
- Modest, respectful desert dress covering shoulders and knees; warm layer for cool nights
- Cost
- Free to attend; budget up to 300 EUR per person for hospitality and extras.
- Weather
- 22 - 26C warm days, cool 12 - 16C nights
- When to book
- No tickets needed; book a Liwa-area desert hotel and 4x4 hire a few weeks ahead and check the official schedule for stage dates
- Getting there
- AUH (Abu Dhabi), ~2 hr by road to Madinat Zayed
- Where to stay
- Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, Tilal Liwa Hotel, Western Hotel Madinat Zayed
- Official site
- https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi
How to attend
Entry is free and open to anyone - drive out to the festival grounds near Madinat Zayed during the December stage, or catch the other stages held across the region between October and January. It is genuinely remote, so hire a car from Abu Dhabi (about 2 hours) or join a desert tour, and check the official schedule for daily programs.
Entry to the festival grounds is free and no ticket is sold - you drive out to Madinat Zayed and walk in.
Insider tip
Mazayna camel-beauty judging happens in the mornings - arrive by 8am for the real action, then return in the evening when the souk comes alive and the heat drops.
Get inside Al Dhafra Festival
Booking matters here: no tickets needed; book a Liwa-area desert hotel and 4x4 hire a few weeks ahead and check the official schedule for stage dates. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.