The Introduction of Camel Racing

Camel Races**

When:28 Oct 2005 - 26 Mar 2006 (annual)

Where:Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Opening Hours:8am-2pm

Camel racing is taken very seriously in this neck of the woods, and Dubai's racetrack fills to the brim during their winter months. Camels tend to be owned by sheikhs and jockeys can be very young - sometimes only six years old.
Please contact the course or visit their website for exact details of the 2005/2006 racing programme.

Camel-racing, a traditional sport, is extremely popular in the Emirates. It was originally staged in an informal setting, at weddings or special festivals, but now customized tracks have been built throughout the country where race meetings are held in the winter months from October to April, culminating in the annual camel race festival at Al Wathba which attracts entrants from all over the world.

Sheikh Zayed's sponsorship of the Zayed Grand Prize camel races, also held at Al Wathba racetrack to celebrate UAE National Day, is an indication of the special focus and encouragement given to the revival of heritage sports and camel-racing festivals as an occasion for the gathering of UAE citizens.

This ancient sport has been renewed with much enthusiasm in recent years. Informal desert tracks and now quite a few official ones have ben assigned for this purpose - a large ten kilometer track on the Al Ain road, about forty-five kilometers from Abu Dhabi city; at Al Ain itself, at Dubai and Umm Al Quwain. Certain slender, finely formed breeds such as the white or golden 'Anafi' and the brown or black 'Boushari' are more suitable for racing. Camel training commences at about six months, entrance for official races beginning at about three years.

Camel races, usually held early on Fridays or on national holidays, provide visitors with a unique opportunity to observe traditionally clad local people in harmony with their surroundings.

General Introduction

Camel racing is a deep-rooted traditional sport that finds its origins in the desert culture of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Middle East. Camels, commonly referred to as "ships of the desert," have for thousands of years played a vital role in the region, influencing every aspect of daily life. Beyond providing transportation, food, and shelter, the camel also served as a means of entertainment, celebration, and competition on festivals and special occasions. Races would take place at such events, which were generally more for show than competition. Competitive races would typically take place as a result of a challenge among camel owners, therefore requiring preparation that differed from the show races.

For centuries, the desert way of life remained unchanging, which included the high socio-economic importance of the camel. With the oil boom, parts of the region transformed and many aspects of traditional life disappeared. The camel maintained its symbolic significance while technology replaced the practical need for the animal. With the advent of wealth, the affected nations were introduced to Western lifestyle, technology, and luxury. The force of such powerful changes caused the gradual disappearance of time-honored traditions and customs, which awakened a sense of urgency when people realized their proud and rich history was fading away. The importance of holding on to those traditions that characterized the spirit of the region was revived, which included camel racing.

As a result, camel racing became a very popular pastime, developing into a much more formalized and professional form of racing which includes specialized breeding, intensive training programs, and technique. The rise of camel racing's popularity can be seen as well in other parts of the world where the race has also begun to draw in sizeable crowds of spectators and influential patrons. The sport continues to grow and develop, spreading and gaining recognition in regions where camels are not generally common.

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