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They can be found in their thousands from all over Morocco and beyond, some even strolling the five kilometres distance from the city of Tan-Tan into the Sahara desert for the official ceremony of the Tan-Tan Moussem - the event of Tan-Tan - that occurred on Saturday, the 14th of May.

This is the 12th "event" of Saharan Bedouins, 30 tribes from as far as Mali, Mauritania and Niger, and the third successive year the UAE takes part, as a visitor of honour.

The Emirati delegation is led by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi, having the assistance of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, the General Women's Union, the Camel Racing Federation and Abu Dhabi's Veterinary Research Centre.

"I am pleased to be here today in this festivity, through which we express together our pride in this ongoing participation in Tan-Tan cultural Moussem , which represents the spirit of love, brotherhood, values of tolerance and discussion of civilisations," stated His Excellancy Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee in his speech during the official opening of the celebration.

Inaugurated in 1963 to protect the customizeds and traditions of Saharan people, the Moussem was prohibited from 1979 till 2004 due to security problems in the area. The biggest and among the most considerable such nomadic celebrations in the area, Tan-Tan Moussem was engraved on the UNESCO's list for intangible cultural heritage of mankind. Just as in its early days, it takes place for one week, in the month of May in Tan-Tan, a town in southwestern Morocco.

More than ever, this year the celebration calls for bringing together the 12 regions of Morocco.

"This year's style 'Tan-Tan Moussem: Confluence of Plural Morocco" is a definite and truthful expression of pride for the distinguished economic and cultural accomplishment of our brotherly Kingdom of Morocco and its wealth of heritage," said Al Mazrouei.

Music, dancing, horse and camel racing, handicrafts, parades and poetry evenings will take place throughout the weeklong celebration, from 13th till 18th of May. The main ceremony, participated in by several Moroccan authorities, in addition to the UAE agents, was a phenomenon of horsemanship.

Known as Fantasia, each of the taking part 30 people rode the length of the celebration grounds, in one straight line, both men and horses in their traditional clothes. Once reaching the official arena, they all fired their rifles, saluting the spectators.

The show lasted for hours and regardless of the strong wind and chilly temperature levels, the crowd of standing viewers didn't thin. Sometimes, they would be captivated by a man falling off his horse as this would get scared and jump at the noise of a mistakenly fired rifle or by a camel too exhausted to stand in the parade and sitting down despite all attempts of its rider to keep it on its feet.

While thousands were enjoying the event, thousands more were touring the tents, handicrafts camping tents and the UAE camp, which proved a hit with visitors, especially drawn in here by the sound of Ayala folklore, Bedouin chanting and the smell of ghahwa and newly made sweets.

At the opposite end of the arena the 2000 square meters UAE camp has Emirati coffee and food prepared on site and shared with visitors, showing various conventional handicrafts, which the Emirati females are demonstrating and discussing to all who wish to learn about them, including an Emirati bridal screen, as well as standard folk dancing and singing, Bedouin poetry nights, small exhibitions of coastal life, camel research and books, consisting of, for the very first time, titles from the National Library of Abu Dhabi.

"The Emirati involvement in Tan-Tan Moussem is a vital opportunity to highlight the UAE's history, culture and heritage, and the creativity of its people in the cultural, intellectual, artistic and literary fields," said Al Mazrouei.

"This is our third year in a row at Tan-Tan Moussem and our participation focuses of clarifying our tangible and intangible heritage, however also every year we attempt to showcase comparable desert customs with the Saharan individuals, and to support the Moussem," added Abdullah Butti Al Qubaisi, Director of Projects Management and Communication at the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee.

Among the biggest supports provided by UAE up until now was the structure of a camel race track, which is inaugurated on Sunday, 15th of May. On the previous day, 13th of May, the festival opened with a camel milking competitors, also organised at the idea of Emirati delegation.

"The participation of UAE brought brand-new requirements for the celebration, in the way of providing heritage, handicrafts and folk programs. This year our participation has reached 150 people, including the support group," pointed out Al Qubaisi.

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