Al Dhafra Festival has announced that a hundred shops have been built as part of this year's festival to cater for the growing popularity of the annual event, which continues to provide great trade and economic opportunities for people in the Western Region. 

Commenting on the announcement, Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Director of the Communications Department of Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi, said that the souq, which is a major part of the festival, has received some extra attention this year. 

"We have finished the phase 2 of Al Dhafra souq, so we have 100 shops now built inside the souq. Next, we will start working on phase 3, which is the main stand of the festival and some administration and operation offices. These will be ready before the festival next year." 

"Through Al Dhafra Festival we have created a platform for the UAE citizens to express their pride for our traditions and continue preserving the heritage of the UAE by passing it to their children. As a platform, the festival has been growing, it has been focusing on the elements of our heritage, not just through camels, saluki, falcons, Arabian horses or dates competitions, but also through the traditional market," he said.

Al Qubaisi added that the souq is not only bigger this year, but also more diverse, as it is part of our strategy to attract more visitors. "In the previous years, the food, for example, was provided mostly by Emirati ladies, but we have learnt that visitors, even from the Western Region, want more variety of food. To make sure we cater for everyone's taste, we have added several food trucks within the souk area," he explained.

The new souq shops were built in cooperation between the Committee and the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations, with a total market area reaching 48,000 square metres. 

Al Dhafra Festival will continue in Madinat Zayed, the Western Region of Abu Dhabi Emirate, until December 29th.

Source: WAM