If there’s one sporting occasion that absolutely sparks the curiosity of tourists 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 with the ability to watch skilled race camels mounted with robotic jockeys racing 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-Japanese individuals of the native inhabitants would get collectively throughout festivals and occasions corresponding to weddings to participate on this folks sport. Just like horse racing, camels would compete towards one another by working alongside a predetermined observe.
On the day of the camel race, wherever between 15-60 camels will 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 intently of their SUVs, driving across the race observe and giving directions by way of robotic jockeys sitting on high of the camels. Races sometimes 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 going down within the UAE even embody conventional customs, rituals and folklore throughout the complete day of racing to evoke the customs of the area amongst guests and vacationers.
A Conventional Sporting Occasion
The connection that Emiratis have with camels has been long-rooted. Not solely have been these animals used as modes of transport throughout the huge deserts, however they have 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, participating 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 value hundreds of thousands of dirhams, this internationally recognised sport has led to the rise of services for camel coaching, breeding, and analysis.
These days, methods corresponding to particular synthetic insemination and embryo switch methods are used for crossbreeding choose lineages and elevating camels which might be meant for the racing observe. Cautious consideration is given to their coaching and vitamin to be able 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 homeowners and breeders.
Protected Practices With Robotic Jockeys
In 2002, UAE outlawed any baby jockeys using the camels and welcomed light-weight robotic jockeys as a substitute. The fundamental construction of those robotic jockeys includes a steel body and a cordless energy drill hooked up to a whip that encourages the camel to run sooner with out inflicting any damage.
These robots are embellished 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 which will decelerate the camel. These options embody a GPS to find the camel’s location, a walkie-talkie permitting the coach to talk to the camel and a coronary heart fee monitor to maintain observe of the camel’s well being.
When is Camel Racing Season in Dubai?
The Dubai camel racing season sometimes takes place throughout the cooler winter season, from October to April, on the totally different camel racing tracks throughout the nation.
Races are prone to happen early mornings, round 7:00 am, on weekends. The Dubai races additionally run throughout the week.
What started as an off-the-cuff sport, has rapidly been established as a world 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 hundreds of camel homeowners and race fans from throughout the UAE in addition to the opposite Center Japanese areas.
The place Can I See A Camel Race in Dubai?
Camel races are often free to attend; nonetheless, as a result of yearly it attracts in massive crowds, it’s advisable to ebook seats beforehand. Are available early on race day and have the chance to take photos with the camels too.
In Dubai, the biggest observe is the Al Marmoon Camel Racing Observe, located close to the Al Marmoum Heritage Village, which is a half an hour’s drive on the Al Ain street in direction of Oman. It hosts annual camel races as a part of the nation’s heritage competition – Al Marmoom Heritage Pageant.
Up-to-date info on Dubai camel races and upcoming occasions, particularly on the Al Marmoon Camel race observe, will be discovered on the Dubai Camel Racing Membership web site or by emailing them information@dcrc.ae.
In case you are fascinated about occasions for the Dubai Crown Prince Camel Racing Pageant, you could find these dates and occasions on their occasions web page. In the event you’re attempting to choose the very best day, the “Tribesman” days are the louder, extra thrilling days to attend!
Different Camel Racing within the UAE
Along with Al Marmoom, different camel racing tracks are current throughout the UAE, together with:
- Al Wathba race observe in Abu Dhabi
- 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
ou can even discover camel racing as a part of the annual Al Dhafra Pageant, held within the Abu Dhabi Western Area, every December. That is the nation’s largest heritage competition occasion, and its cornerstone occasion, the Camel Mazayna, attracts big worldwide curiosity. The primary competition grounds are roughly 3 hours from Dubai.
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 good shot with the ship of the desert. You’ll be able to select to get one whereas using a camel on the beachfront of The Seashore JBR, towards the backdrop of Palm Jumeirah, on a desert safari, or whereas feeding the camels on the Camel Farm.
Extra Continuously Requested Questions About Camel Racing In Dubai
Camel racing is an internationally recognised conventional sport that includes well-bred and skilled camels mounted with robotic jockeys working across the camel race observe, with the profitable camel fetching prizes value hundreds of thousands of dirhams.
There are a number of totally different venues of various measurement tracks throughout UAE. Nevertheless, the biggest and hottest is the Al Marmoon Camel Racing Observe of Dubai. Do notice racing is seasonal, so it’s essential to look forward to the cooler days of winter to catch the racing in motion. In summer season, you possibly can head alongside early and catch a glimpse of trainers placing camels by way of their paces.
The biggest observe is the Al Marmoon Camel Racing Observe of Dubai, situated on the outskirts of the town.
A few of the quickest racing camels can run as much as 65 km/h.
Usually, camels are slower than horses, however skilled camels on a desert observe can run simply as quick as a racehorse.
Camel racing is a vital a part of the normal tradition handed down the generations for a lot of center japanese 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 will be bought at auctions and begin from about AED 350,000 (approx USD 95,000), relying on the camel breed. Profitable camels come at a fair increased value with bids beginning in hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.
This distinctive desert space of the town is usually ignored by friends to Dubai, however there’s lots greater than first meets the attention. Take a look at our information to the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve for extra info.
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