The bazaar held as part of the Sixth Jordan Festival for Camel Racing and Nabati Poetry, organized by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority on Saturday evening in Disah, provided local community members with a platform to showcase and promote their products. The event was part of activities that leverage Bedouin heritage to boost tourism and economic activity and strengthen local communities’ participation in tourism-related initiatives.
اضافة اعلان
Around 20 local community businesses and organizations took part in the bazaar, held alongside the festival at the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan racetrack. They displayed a variety of products, including handicrafts, traditional crafts, food and beverages, offering an opportunity to introduce local products to visitors while supporting traditional crafts and occupations within tourism and heritage events.
Dr. Thabet Al-Nabulsi, the authority’s commissioner for tourism and youth affairs, said the bazaar was part of an integrated program combining heritage, cultural, educational and recreational activities. The program allows visitors to learn about Jordanian Bedouin heritage while providing local community members with opportunities to showcase their products and participate in the festival’s accompanying events.
He added that the festival’s activities included the opening of a heritage museum dedicated to camels and Bedouin life. The museum features traditional tools and artifacts highlighting life in the desert and the historical role of camels in the lives of Jordanians. A scientific exhibition on camels was also opened in cooperation with the National Agricultural Research Center and Fabco Veterinary Pharmaceuticals to introduce visitors to scientific and veterinary aspects related to camels.
As part of efforts to support local products, Al-Nabulsi noted that the authority had partnered with local women’s associations to offer tastings of traditional foods and promote products made by women and home-based businesses. A dedicated area for children’s recreational activities was also provided, broadening the participation of different segments of the local community.
Al-Nabulsi explained that the authority provided free buses to transport visitors between Aqaba and Disah, making it easier to reach the festival site and participate in its program. Evening activities continued with a performance by a camel-riding unit dressed in traditional military attire, accompanied by Bedouin folk songs, followed by a musical evening featuring singer Imad Al-Khawaldeh.
Al-Nabulsi praised the cooperation of the National Agricultural Research Center, Fabco Veterinary Pharmaceuticals and Bin Maarouf Company, stressing the importance of partnerships between national institutions and the private sector in supporting the festival’s accompanying events, diversifying its program and enriching the visitor experience.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Ahmed Al-Rawashdeh
