Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi organises Al Dhafra Water Festival in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Cruising & Yacht Club.

The Festival will range from the 20th to the 29th of April, 2017 in the city of Mirfa in Al Dhafra Region.

Mr. Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Director of Al Dhafra Water Festival stated that "considerable preparations are occurring in advance of the 9th version."

Al Mazrouei kept in mind that the Festival's name was altered from Al Gharbia Watersports Festival to Al Dhafra Water Festival, based on a new decree that was recently released by the President of the United Arab Emirates His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

The decree amends the names of the Eastern and Western Regions in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. As necessary, the Eastern Region in the emirate is relabelled Al Ain Region, while the Western Region is relabelled Al Dhafra Region.

" The directives of the smart management have actually added to a thorough renaissance in Al Dhafra Region. A calculated geographical placement and a rich historical heritage have enabled the region to produce an extraordinary blend of originality and modernity. Al Dhafra is extensively acknowledged as a rich heritage site that boasts unique historic prizes and awesome natural landscapes. Today the civilisational tradition of Al Dhafra is qualified by a major economic growth," Al Mazrouei stated.

The Higher Organising Committee of Al Dhafra Water Festival, in its 9th edition, is banking on an innovative preparation and a creative organisation as it desires highlight the Emirati heritage and a genuine aspect of the local society. The visitors are invited to discover the exploits personalizeds and traditions of citizens while discovering the Emirati atmosphere, and its different facets and information.

At the festival's website which covers over 20,000 square metres, a variety of diverse tasks will be accepted the participation of 4,000 professional athletes from 20 nations. Amongst the most noteworthy tasks are: the Local Rowing Race, the Race for Tfares, Al Bawanish Sailing Race, the Stand Up Paddle Browsing, the Jenana Cruising Race, the Regatta Race (UAE Cruising National Championship), the Kite Surfing Competition. Various other sporting activities include swimming, coastline volley ball, beach football, along with a variety of outstanding heritage tasks that are closely related to the marine setting.

This year's version of Al Dhafra Water Festival accompanies the organisation of the long-distance First Dalma Race for the group of 60 feet. Arranged by the Abu Dhabi Cruising & Private yacht Club, the First Dalma Race will be awarding prizes with a total value of AED 25 million.

Al Mazrouei hailed the substantive duty of the sensible leadership in sustaining heritage and aquatic sporting activities. He additionally praised the great rate of interest that had been accorded to Al Dhafra Region, with the development of numerous sectors, notably economy, tourism, education and medical care.

He stressed that "Al Dhafra Region has come to be a financial investment magnet for a variety of vital jobs."

Al Mazrouei expanded his thanks to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Agent in the Western Region, for his patronage of the Festival and his unlimited support for the various events that are kept in Al Dhafra Region

In addition to sporting events, the Festival offers an abundant variety of various other activities including the Typical Market which offers the visitors a possibility to find the background, traditions and customs of citizens.

The children's Village, which constitutes a crucial part of the activities of the Festival, includes video games, marine sporting activities, entertainment in addition to cultural and heritage activities. Competitions and workshops are likewise organised to establish the everyday skills of children and improve their memory. In this regard, the Organising Committee aspires to introduce the younger generation to the different Emirati personalizeds and practices, with the objective of supporting heritage through the organisation of exciting performances and the awarding of promotional prizes.

The tasks of the 9th version are anticipated to clarify the relevance of Al Dhafra as a tourist attraction, Through highlighting the key aspects of this region that has actually turned into an appealing setting for site visitors and vacationers from throughout the world. Al Dhafra Water Festival attracts around 60,000 site visitors each year. Thousands of nationals, residents and travelers group to Al Dhafra in April to take pleasure in the exciting tasks, heritage competitions and marine performances.

The Festival looks for to support and promote the region which has been witnessing an amazing economic renewal and a noteworthy industrial healing. The organisation of the Festival together with the running of various other cultural events and heritage tasks has actually properly added to the economic success of Al Dhafra Region.

The Festival also looks for to promote the magnificent facets of a promising and diverse environment, which enables the growth of sporting activities generally and aquatic sporting activities specifically.

Over its previous editions, Al Dhafra Water Festival has been able to supply a chance for citizens to discover new societies, personalizeds and traditions through communication with various other nationalities.

Al Dhafra Region.

Al Dhafra Region is a diverse visitor location that provides for all preferences among the fans of exhilaration and recreation. A home to Sir Bani Yas Island resorts, Qasr Al Sarab desert resort, and the Liwa desert, Al Dhafra covers a location of 40,000 square kilometres, which is about 60 percent of Abu Dhabi emirate's land mass, and consists of 7 areas that are giving the population with the required services and possibilities.

Al Dhafra is additionally the home of a variety of various other communities, villages and scattered islands. Several of the cities and towns are located in the heart of the desert, specifically Mahadher Liwa, Madinat Zayed, Baynounah and Ghayathi. Various other towns neglect the Arabian Gulf, specifically Mirfa, Al Ruwais and Al Sila'a.

Amongst the renowned islands in Al Dhafra are: Dalma, which is a densely-populated island; the Abu al Abyad which is the largest of about 200 islands along the coastline of the UAE; and the Sir Bani Yas Island, which was established as a natural reserve by the late president and founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May God bless his soul).