FAIRPLAY

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and with the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan,, the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Camel Racing and Beauty Festival for purebred Arabian camels kicks off on December 24 in Al Dhaid district – Sharjah .This marks the 15th consecutive yearly edition of the festival which has been held in various regions across the UAE.

The festival, organized by the UAE Camel Racing Federation, chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Advisor to His Highness the President , includes camel races, camel races beauty contests and a heritage race. The camel races comprise the categories of “Haqayiq, Laqaya, Idha’a, Thanaya, Hawl, and Zumul,” with camels from the community competing in 189 races. The organizing committee has allocated prizes for the winners of the symbolic races for Haqayiq, Laqaya, Idha’a, and Thanaya. Winners receive a cup and 1.5 million dirhams for the Abkar races and a cup and 1 million dirhams for the Ja’dan races. On the final day, dedicated to Hawl and Zumul, winners receive a sword and 5 million dirhams for the main Hawl race, in addition to a sword and 2 million dirhams for the local Hawl race. The organizing committee has allocated a rifle and 1.5 million dirhams for the main open Zumul race, along with a saddle and 1 million dirhams for the local Zumul race. As for the camel milking competition, which is held over four races, the winner of each race receives… In the “Arabi” local camel race, the winner receives a shield and 70,000 dirhams. In the “Khawawir” local camel race, the winner receives a shield and 70,000 dirhams. In the third race, for purebred camels, the first-place winner receives a shield and 70,000 dirhams. In the fourth race, for local camels owned by tribesmen, the first-place winner receives a shield and 70,000 dirhams. In the beauty contests, which consist of 24 races, the organizing committee has determined the winners in the categories of (Mafarid, Haqayiq, Laqaya, Idha’a, Thanaya, Hawl, and Zamoul) for the open local camel races will each receive a shield and 50,000 dirhams. Winners in the local camel races will receive 50,000 dirhams, and the remaining winners will receive valuable prizes up to tenth place.

In the heritage race, the organizing committee announced 12 races, including two Asian races, where the first-place winners will receive 50,000 dirhams, and cash prizes will be awarded to the remaining winners up to tenth place. The residents of the regions hosting the competitions are given special races in the camel races, with the first four races in the morning session of the festival being allocated to them to provide opportunities for competition and challenge to win the title at the start of the competitions.