The World’s Most Spectacular Camel Racing Festivals: A Look at UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia

Camel racing is deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, and it continues to evolve and thrive as a popular sport and celebration of heritage. Here are some of the major camel racing events and festivals around the world:

The Al Marmoom Camel Racing Festival is one of the largest camel racing festivals in the world. It takes place every year in Dubai, UAE, and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. Being a unique heritage festival, it includes everything connected to camel races.

The Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Camel Race Festival is another significant camel racing event that takes place in the UAE. It is an annual festival that is held in Dubai and features a range of competitions and activities. The Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Camel Race Festival is a popular event among locals and tourists alike, and attracts participants and spectators from all over the world.

The Crown Prince Camel Festival in Taif is one of the major camel racing events in Saudi Arabia, and it has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of camels participating in a camel festival in 2021, with over 14,000 camels competing for a total prize money of 14 million dollars.

The King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is another large cultural, economic, sports and entertainment festival. It takes place in Saudi Arabia and is known for its large prize money, which can reach up to $30 million. It is a month-long festival with over 19 categories camels can compete in.

The Father Amir Camel Racing Festival is one of the major camel racing events in Qatar, named in honor of the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The festival is an annual event that takes place in Al Shahaniya, Qatar, and features a range of competitions and activities centered around camel racing.