As Abu Dhabi prepares itself to host ten major events, carrying a total of more than Dh104 million worth of prizes, the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee — Abu Dhabi is focused on its preparations for the execution of its action plan for this year.
Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazroui, Adviser for Cultural and Heritage Affairs at the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee — Abu Dhabi, says timetables have been set for the ambitious plans.
“This plan aspires to achieve the committee’s objectives and comply with its vision. We continue to work towards the sustainment of the national identity and Emirati heritage through the preservation of popular legacy and the encouragement of the local society to practice heritage and its various forms,” says Al Mazroui. “Our mission consists in the promotion of the activities and practises of cultural heritage and the associated customs, traditions and folklore, in order to sustain identity and strengthen human and social bonds.”
The committee will organise ten key events, which include competitions and heritage festivals, with prizes worth more than Dh104 million. The committee manages, organises and supervises the required logistical, promotional and media affairs of these events. GN Focus highlights a selection.
Dh55m+
The eighth edition of the Al Dhafra Festival will be held in Madinat Zayed, Al Gharbia, from December 15-29. The festival will feature 14 special heritage activities and competitions. The total value of the prizes is more than Dh55 million, including 225 cars.
Dh22m+
The sixth season of the reality TV poetry competition Million’s Poet offers prizes and incentives worth more than Dh22 million, of which Dh15 million go to the top five positions. The winner gets Dh5 million while the runner-up will get Dh4 million. The third, fourth and fifth positions will be awarded Dh3 million, Dh2 million and Dh1 million respectively.
Dh3m
The winner of Prince of Poets, another poetry contest on TV, will get Dh1 million.
The second position gets Dh500,000, the third Dh300,000, the fourth Dh200,000 and the fifth Dh100,000. There are also incentives for participating poets, which takes the total value to Dh3 million.
Dh4.38m
The Al Gharbia Festival features several activities and diverse competitions, with prizes that reach up to Dh4.38 million
Dh4m+
The second edition of the Baynounah Camel Festival, on November 15 in Madinat Zayed, Al Gharbia, allocates more than Dh4 million in prizes for 32 laps.
Dh4m
The Al Shara Cultural Programme features daily contests aired annually on Abu Dhabi TV throughout Ramadan. The contests include all fields of heritage life in the UAE, with prizes of about Dh4 million, starting from Dh1,500 up to Dh20,000.
Dh5m+
The tenth edition of the Liwa Date Festival, held between July 18 and July 25, features outstanding activities and competitions such as dates, mango and lemon Mazaynas (beauty contests). The total value of the prizes exceeds Dh5 million. Also on the programme of the festival are a number of lectures aimed at raising awareness about the significance of the palm tree, special training courses to teach children care for palm trees, a traditional market for handicrafts and popular games for children. The festival encourages efforts to improve the cultivation of palm trees in the UAE and motivates farmers to be more concerned about the quality of the production of half-ripe dates (without chemical additives).
