The annually held Awafi Festival will take place from December 16 to January 7 at the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Hotel, now in its 9th edition. 

The event's organising committee held a press conference recently to unveil the events to be held during the festival.

It approved the holding of an official opening ceremony which will include various formal and festive activities; an art show entitled “Awafi Nights” featuring the Ornina Theatrical Dance Band, and a short film about Ras al Khaimah.

The ceremony is aimed at promoting the emirate as a first-class local, regional and international tourism destination, a statement from the committee said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Kayed Al Qasimi, Vice-President of the Supreme Committee of the Festival, said: “The Awafi festival is one of the most anticipated events in terms of sports, heritage, entertainment, and social and cultural arts. This year’s edition will feature a series of first-ever events for the UAE, including the world’s largest gathering of Toyota cars, the UAE’s best-selling vehicles. A Guinness World Record representative will be on hand to officially confirm the record-breaking feat.”

“The festival will also feature the ‘Iron Man Championship’, a first-of-its-kind heavy weightlifting championship in UAE and Middle East region, and the ‘6th Arab Cycling Championship’ that was previously held in collaboration with the Emirates Cultural Sport Club.” he added.

Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar, general coordinator of the Awafi Festival, said: “The latest edition is full of diversity, breadth and energy in line with the Department of Economic Development’s strategy of developing the tourism sector and supporting the emirate’s economic diversification policy.”

“The programme will also include the opening of a permanent heritage village divided into marine, agricultural and nomadic sub-villages, in addition to retail stores displaying traditional heritage products,” he said.

Al Matar revealed that this year’s festival will also feature a series of highly competitive and entertaining games and championships, including a football tournament to be held at the Awafi Stadium, arm-wrestling, bench press, and tug-of-war championships.

“This year’s sports events will also feature a bodybuilding championship to be held under the patronage of Brigadier General Shaikh Talib bin Saqr Al Qasimi, director general of the Ras Al Khaimah Police Department, under the supervision of UAE Bodybuilding Federation. It will have an active participation full of challenge and competitiveness,” he said.

The festival will also play host to water- and auto-sport events including a rowing race among modern and traditional boats.

 The ‘Awafi Hil’ championship will attract a significant number of car enthusiasts from all over the country; a rally championship to be held in collaboration with UAE’s Automobile and Touring Club; a ‘Classic Car Show’ followed by a ‘Modified Car Show’.

The committee will also host awareness and cultural events dedicated to all segments of society, including lectures and competitions under various themes.

Visitors can enjoy several heritage activities such as henna painting, a heritage-product bazaar and a miniature show to sell heritage-related paintings reflecting Ras Al Khaimah’s character and identity, the statement said.

The Awafi Festival 2011 events will be held at various locations such as Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Hotel, Heritage Village Theatre, Awafi Stadium, RAK Sea Club, and RAK Exhibition Center, it said. – TradeArabia News Service