UAE Awafi Festival

Sand Dune Adventure in Awafi, UAE
Sand Dunning in Awafi, UAE

The UAE Awafi Festival[1] is an annual event in Ras al-Khaimah, UAE and is one of the defining events in the Emirate's tourism calendar. It attracts visitors from all over the GCC during the 3 weeks of the event. The spring festival celebrates the emirate's ethnic and cultural heritage through theatre performances, cultural displays, and outdoor sports events held amongst the dramatic red sand dunes of the Awafi area in Ras Al Khaimah.

Entire area is open without any fees or charges throughout year to enjoy adventure ride if you have your own good four wheel car or otherwise can hire it quad bike ( all-terrain vehicle -ATV), from within near by vicinity on hourly rental basis with very nominal charges. RAK Tourism said that the success of the Awafi Festival lay in the fact that it was an annual outdoor event and that its focus was on traditional local and family fun entertainment. Hilary Mc Cormack, manager RAK Tourism, said, "The Government of Ras Al Khaimah believes cultural initiatives (such as Al Awafi Festival), reflect their commitment to promote social and family events for the people of the Emirate."[2]

The festival has a Heritage Village, local arts and crafts, a bazaar, children's play zone, clinics, and police aid post apart from public amenities like food outlets, coffee shops, and games area. Hamad Hasan Rahma Al Shamsi, from the organizing committee confirmed the car and dune bike racing competitions as the highlight of the festival, and normally held in December or January every year. The Kuwaiti Band, Miami, will entertain the weekend crowds. The festival is free to enter and doors open each day at 4:00 pm till late in the night.[3]

Place Location

See also

References

  1. ↑ "YouTube Videos of Awafi Festival RAK".
  2. ↑ "Defining Local Tourist Attraction Al Awafi Festival commences". eTN Global Travel Industry News. Jan 8, 2009. Retrieved Sep 6, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Awafi Festival Begins in RAK Today". Khaleej Times. 29 Jan 2010. Retrieved 6 Sep 2010.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ras_al-Khaimah.