Qarnaw Tourism and Heritage Festival 2

Glance at Al Jouf Governorate:

Location:

Located 170 km north east of Sana’a, bordered from north by Sa'ada governorate and from east the Desert of Empty Quarter and from south Marib and Sana’a governorates and from west Amran and Sa’ada governorates.

Population: 443.797  (2004)

Climate:

Moderate climate in summer and quite cold during winter in inner and highlands areas; while in desert areas the weather is hot in summer, and reasonable during day time and cold during night in winter.

Geography:

 The governorate has various natural features such as mountains, hills, wide green valleys, desert areas, and semi desert areas.

Handicrafts:

The wool spinning in the desert areas and semi desert areas, and industries from the palm trees in the valleys. The civilization of AL Ma’een state flourished in both sides of AL Jouf valley. Its people reached a high level of knowledge and awareness thus they were experienced in construction arts, and built their cities with sophisticated buildings with its decorated temples built by granite stones; all of this put Ma’een civilization arts in an advanced level that was equivalent to the old civilizations of the east in Egypt and Iraq. The Ma'een peoples were proficient in agriculture and industry, and famous in trade that established trade stations during the flourishing of gum commercial road. Their influence reached the north of the Arabian Peninsula and outside it. Their heritages is shown clearly on their old Yemeni engraving and their writings which were found at the upper side of Al Hejaz area and included in the engravings of old Egyptian civilization.

Horse Racing

It’s considered one of the old favorite sports for Arabs and of course Yemen, as Yemen the origin of Arabs.

The traditional horse racing is one of the Qarnaw festival events and this event considered the first in the Yemeni desert, and there are plans to establish a "Desert Marathon" for horse and knights soon where competitors has to pass 42.2 km. The winners in the current race will be awarded as well the long race of 80 km.

Awards of Horse Racing:

The First: 100,000 and the Trophy

The Second: 100,000

The Third: 50,000

Camel Racing

It’s considered and interesting sport and loved by Arabs for hundreds of years as it’s the heritage, genuine and speed sport. will be fixed in someone's mind the scene of group of camels race with a high speed that shake the ground tremendously. The camels participating in Qarnaw traditional race are three categories:

1-Al Sudais  2- Al Thanaya 3- Al Jadeea'

Awards of Camel Racing:

The first: 100,000 and the Trophy

The Second: 50,000

The Third: 30,000

Car Race on Desert Hills

This event is considered one of the most essential events in Qarnaw Festival due to its challenge that test the tolerance which require a high experience in driving in such a conditions that challenge the nature as well.

Four wheel cars are participating and every participant will have two chances while the first five winners from first round will be qualified to the final round with the same mechanism they will compete and ONLY the first three winners will be rewarded.

The Awards:

The First:  100,000 and the Trophy

The Second: 50,000

The Third: 30,000

The Festival Program:

The First Day 13/12/2006:

2:00 pm:                                    moving from Meeting Point, Sana'a.

6:30 - 7:00 pm:                         arrival

7:15 - 7:30 pm:                         tents allocation & break

8:00 pm                                    dinner

8:45 pm                                    night party

10:00 pm                                  sleep

The Second Day 14/12/2006:

6:00 am                                    The morning coffee and  observing   sunrise scenery.

7:00 am                                    breakfast

7:45 am                                    getting to stage

8:15 am                                    the opening and the festival chief  speech.

8:30 am                                    the Minister of Tourism speech- the   festival sponsor.

8:45 am                                    the festival's poem

9:00 am                                    the start of events (horse race)

9:30 am                                    horse race

10:00 am                                  horse show with local traditional  lyrics playing

11:00 am                                  the camel race

12:00 am                                  car race (first group)

1:00 pm                                    break & Lunch

3:00-4:45 pm                             snap

4:00-5:00 pm                            traditional games

5:00-5:30 pm                            drinking coffee and witnessing  sunset scenery.

5:40-7:00 pm                             praying and resting

7:15 pm                                      dinner

8:00 pm                                     night party

The Third Day 15/12/2006

6:00 am                                     the morning coffee   and observing sunrise scenery

7:00 am                                    breakfast

7:30 am                                    sand hills hiking

8:30 am                                    return to camp

9:00 am                                    camel race (Al Thanaya)

10:00 am                                  camel race (AL Jeza'a)

11:00 am                                  car racing ( second group)

12:00 am                                  back to tents

12:30 am                                  lunch

1:30 pm                                    back to Sana'a