Riyadh 'em cowboy: Saudi Arabia hosts world's biggest camel festival
Crown Prince Camel Festival breaks Guinness World Record for the world's largest camel sporting event after over 11,000 camels participated in 787 rounds of competition
The Crown Prince Camel Festival ran for 42 days until yesterday, Saturday September 22.
A festival in Saudi Arabia that ran for 42 days and featured 11,186 camels has won a Guinness World Record for being the largest ever event of its type.
The Crown Prince Camel Festival, which finished on September 22 and took place in Taif, near Riyadh, involved 787 rounds of competition over $14m (Dh52m) worth of prizes awarded for speed, good looks and breeding.
The Crown Prince Camel Festival
Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, president of the Saudi Arabian Camel Federation, accepted the official certificate as the event closed. Yesterday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, visited the mammoth festival.
The Crown Prince Camel Festival in 2018 has won a Guinness World Record for being the largest event in the world of its type
Even as the country modernises, the festival's aim is to showcase and boost the camel racing heritage of the Kingdom and Gulf Arab countries. The event unfolds in four phases, with key races taking place at weekends. At top speed, camels can reach up to 40kph in short bursts.
Also featured were sports, cultural and entertainment activities alongside educational workshops for camel owners and visitors interested in camel sports.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohammed shares a light moment with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sayyid Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said, Oman Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohammed attends the concluding ceremony of the Saudi Crown Prince Camel Festival alongside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohammed and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman present one of the prizes. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohammed and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman present one of the prizes. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohammed presents one of the prizes. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohammed presents one of the prizes. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance, left, at the concluding ceremony of the Saudi Crown Prince Camel Festival. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Diab bin Mohammed bin Zayed, Chairman of the Department of Transport, left, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the UAE National Olympic Committee. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, left, attends the concluding ceremony of the Saudi Crown Prince Camel Festival. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, left, attends the concluding ceremony of the Saudi Crown Prince Camel Festival. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah, Sheikh Mohammed, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sayyid Asa’ad. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sayyid Asa’ad, Sheikh Mohammed and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
The concluding ceremony of the Saudi Crown Prince Camel Festival. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
