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If there’s one sporting occasion that absolutely sparks guests’ curiosity and binds collectively the native individuals of UAE throughout all emirates, it’s the conventional sport of camel racing.
There isn’t something fairly like watching skilled race camels mounted with robotic jockeys race at speeds of round 65km an hour alongside the desert tracks.
On this Dubai Camel Racing Information, we’ll cowl:
What’s Camel Racing?
Camel racing goes again many centuries when Center-Jap individuals of the native inhabitants would get collectively throughout festivals and occasions similar to weddings to participate on this folks sport. Just like horse racing, camels would compete towards one another by operating alongside a predetermined observe.
On the day of the camel race, wherever between 15-60 camels may be competing with one another for trophies and prize cash. Camels adorned in shiny colors stand behind the gates initially line and dash as quickly because the gates fling open.
There’s pleasure within the air as you hear the crowds cheering for these camels sprinting with their necks bobbing right into a fog of sand. Their trainers observe them carefully of their SUVs, driving across the race observe and giving directions by way of robotic jockeys sitting on high of the camels. Races usually last as long as quarter-hour, which is then adopted by the award ceremony.
Camel racing in Dubai attracts in massive crowds and guarantees to be a wonderful vacationer attraction. The races within the UAE even embrace conventional customs, rituals and folklore throughout your complete day of racing to evoke the area’s customs amongst guests and vacationers.
A Conventional UAE Sporting Occasion
The connection that Emiratis have with camels has been long-rooted. Not solely had been these animals used as modes of transport throughout the huge deserts, however they had been additionally a dependable supply of meals and milk for the locals. They’ve been used for buying and selling and, as talked about earlier than, collaborating in sporting occasions.
The camel racing occasions that we see now in UAE protect the wealthy Emirati cultural values and mirror the area’s traditions.
Whereas the love for camel racing prevails, there are some issues which have modified considerably over time. With the chance for the profitable camels to stroll away with money prizes price thousands and thousands of dirhams, this internationally recognised sport has led to the rise of amenities for camel coaching, breeding, and analysis.
These days, strategies similar to particular synthetic insemination and embryo switch strategies are used for crossbreeding choose lineages and elevating camels which are meant for the racing observe. Cautious consideration is given to their coaching and diet with a purpose to put together racing camels for competitors.
Within the UAE, underneath the strict pointers of the Emirates Camel Racing Federation, native governments encourage breeding applications and even present subsidies to camel house owners and breeders.
Protected Practices With Robotic Jockeys
In 2002, the UAE outlawed youngster jockeys driving camels and welcomed light-weight robotic jockeys as an alternative. These robotic jockeys’ primary construction contains a steel body and a cordless energy drill hooked up to a whip that encourages the camel to run sooner with out inflicting any hurt.
These robots are adorned within the colors of the workforce and positioned on moulded steel saddles that go on the camel throughout a race.
Development in expertise has allowed some trainers so as to add on further options to their jockeys with out compromising on the load that will decelerate the camel. These options embrace a GPS to find the camel’s location, a walkie-talkie permitting the coach to talk to the camel and a coronary heart charge monitor to maintain observe of the camel’s well being.
When is Camel Racing Season in Dubai?
The Dubai camel racing season usually takes place in the course of the cooler winter season, from October to March, on the totally different camel racing tracks throughout the nation.
Races will probably happen early mornings, round 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM, normally on weekends. The Dubai races additionally run in the course of the week for sure occasions.
What started as an off-the-cuff sport rapidly grew to become a global racing occasion recognised throughout a world platform. The camel racing festivals held in UAE underneath the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum – Dubai’s Crown Prince and the Chairman of Dubai Sports activities Council, carry collectively 1000’s of camel house owners and race fans from throughout the UAE in addition to the opposite Center Jap areas.
The place to Attend Camel Racing Dubai 2024-25
Camel races are free to attend; nevertheless, as a result of they draw massive crowds yearly, it’s advisable to guide seats beforehand. Are available in early on race day to take photos with the camels, too.
In Dubai, the most important observe is the Al Marmoon Camel Racing Observe, located close to the Al Marmoum Heritage Village, which is a half-hour drive on the Al Ain street in the direction of Oman.
Up-to-date info on Dubai camel races and upcoming occasions, particularly on the Al Marmoon Camel race observe, may be discovered on the Dubai Camel Racing Membership web site or by emailing them, information@dcrc.ae.
The Winter 2024-25 season has already commenced – if you’re focused on instances for the Dubai Crown Prince Camel Racing Competition, you’ll find these dates and instances on their occasions web page (3 to 22 March 2025).
In the event you’re making an attempt to select the very best day, many agree that the weekend “Tribesman” days are the louder, extra thrilling days to attend, although any of the times offers you a singular and thrilling expertise.
Yow will discover the precise location of the DCRC observe in Al Marmoom right here:
Camels That Race in Dubai
All of the camels you’ll discover within the UAE are dromedary (single hump) camels.
In the event you see races labeled as Haqaqa (Hukayif), Laqaiya (Laqaya), Izaah, Thnaya and Holoul, this refers back to the camel racing class, outlined by the camels’ age.
Different Camel Racing UAE
Along with Al Marmoom, different camel racing tracks are current throughout the UAE, together with:
- Al Wathba race observe in Abu Dhabi for Abu Dhabi camel racing
- Al Sawan race observe in Ras Al Khaimah
- Al Dhaid race observe in Sharjah
- Al Tallah racecourse in Ajman
- Al Lebsa race observe in Umm Al Quwain
Additionally, you will discover camel racing as a part of the annual Al Dhafra Competition, held within the Abu Dhabi Western Area every winter. That is the nation’s largest heritage competition occasion, and its cornerstone occasion, the Camel Mazayna, attracts big worldwide curiosity. The principle competition grounds in Madinat Zayed are roughly 3 hours from Dubai.
In the event you’ve not been fortunate sufficient to catch an precise UAE camel race, you should still get the chance round any of those tracks to go camel recognizing and get some snaps of them coaching all year long, although for apparent causes, the winter months are finest.
Extra Camel Experiences in Dubai
A go to to Dubai is incomplete with no image of you with a camel. And there may be a couple of spot so that you can seize that excellent shot with the ship of the desert. You’ll be able to select to get one whereas driving a camel on the beachfront of The Seashore JBR, towards the backdrop of Palm Jumeirah, on a desert safari, or whereas feeding the camels at The Camel Farm.
Extra Ceaselessly Requested Questions About Camel Racing In Dubai
Camel racing is an internationally recognised conventional sport that entails well-bred and skilled camels mounted with robotic jockeys operating across the camel race observe, with the profitable camel fetching prizes price thousands and thousands of dirhams.
There are a number of totally different venues of various dimension tracks throughout UAE. Nonetheless, the most important and hottest is the Al Marmoon Camel Racing Observe of Dubai. Do notice racing is seasonal, so you might want to watch for the cooler days of winter to catch the racing in motion. In summer time, you’ll be able to head alongside early and catch a glimpse of trainers placing camels by way of their paces.
The most important observe is the Al Marmoon Camel Racing Observe of Dubai, situated on the outskirts of the town.
A number of the quickest racing camels can run as much as 65 km/h.
Typically, camels are slower than horses, however skilled camels on a desert observe can run simply as quick as a racehorse.
Camel racing is a crucial a part of the normal tradition handed down the generations for a lot of Center Jap Arab nations. Subsequently, it’s a sport that’s fashionable in these nations, together with UAE.
The emirate prohibits all types of playing underneath Article 414 of the UAE Penal Code.
Camels may be bought at auctions and begin from about AED 350,000 (approx USD 95,000), relying on the camel breed. Profitable camels come at an excellent larger worth with bids beginning in thousands and thousands of {dollars}.
This distinctive desert space of the town is usually missed by visitors to Dubai, however there’s loads greater than first meets the attention. Try our information to the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve for extra info.
Earlier than you go… Extra necessary issues it’s best to know when planning a visit to Dubai
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