Camels parade in the Liwa desert, west of Abu Dhabi, during the Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival on December 22, 2013. The festival, which attracts participants from around the Gulf region, includes a camel beauty contest and other activities aimed at promoting the country's folklore. (KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images)

The dusty, rolling sand dunes of the desert in the United Arab Emirates, where temperatures can soar above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, may be one of the most unusual places to hold a beauty pageant. But the contestants vying for the crown here are not your typical, long-legged stunners.

Abu Dhabi's is an annual celebration of these creatures, which have been according to UAEInteract. The United Arab Emirates are home to 380,000 camels, which can resist the harsh climate of the country's deserts and are considered prized possessions by many.

The Festival, which began on December 22 and lasts for two weeks, is now on its seventh year and also features horse and dog races, a falconry competition, auctions, markets and other activities showcasing the UAE's culture and folklore.

(MORE: )

The highlight of the festival, however, is the camel beauty pageant, which features around 30,000 camels from around the Gulf region. The pageant is the equivalent of a Crufts-style dog show, where the , according to Time Out Abu Dhabi.

But what exactly makes a camel beautiful?

"The judges are looking for ," Ali Al Mansouri, a camel owner and member of the Mazayna Al Dhafra organizing committee, told the National. "The body should be long, the hump and the back should be big, and the color and posture of the camel are important."

According to the National, owners of the top 10 camels receive prizes including luxury cars and cash prizes of between 18,000 and 30,000 dirham ($4,900 to $8,200).

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Thailand's Monkey Buffet Festival