Camels gather to take part in a contest at the first Qatar Camel Festival in Lebsayyer area of Al Shahaniyyah, around 25 kilometres north-west of the Qatari capital. All photos: AFP
Qatar has allowed camels from across the region to enter, drawing breeders from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE with millions of dollars in prizes at stake.
Organisers were on alert to combat tampering, which includes the use of Botox.
The camels are put through X-rays and other monitoring.
To pick the winners, the judges look at 'the size and beauty' of the head, the length of the neck and the position of the camel's hump.
For black camels the size of its head can be a deal-breaker, but for white camels, consistency of colour counts.
Authorities in Qatar and its neighbours are seeking to boost the profile of traditional practices as they compete with mega events such as football's World Cup and Formula One grands prix.
The festival has attracted Qatar's growing urban population as well as its desert-dwelling Bedouin.
