• A man operates the camel gate at the end of the track. Reem Mohammed / The National
    A man operates the camel gate at the end of the track. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • VIPs enjoy cooling off inside the air-conditioned grandstand. Reem Mohammed / The National
    VIPs enjoy cooling off inside the air-conditioned grandstand. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • A man holds a device which controls the robot jockey on his camel. Reem Mohammed / The National
    A man holds a device which controls the robot jockey on his camel. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • A robot jockey is tied on in preparation for a race. Reem Mohammed / The National
    A robot jockey is tied on in preparation for a race. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Saffron adorns a camel that took second place at the Final Annual Camel Races Festival in Al Wathba. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Saffron adorns a camel that took second place at the Final Annual Camel Races Festival in Al Wathba. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • The line-up at the start of a race at the Annual Camel Race Festivalin Al Wathba. Reem Mohammed / The National
    The line-up at the start of a race at the Annual Camel Race Festivalin Al Wathba. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • A camel peers out of the grounds behind the racing track. Reem Mohammed / The National
    A camel peers out of the grounds behind the racing track. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Camel owners await their events behind the racetrack at Al Wathba. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Camel owners await their events behind the racetrack at Al Wathba. Reem Mohammed / The National

UAE

A day at the races: The First Annual Camel Races Festival at Al Wathba

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  • Arabic

As the excitement of the last major event in the camel racing season reaches its peak, The National's photographer Reem Mohammed shares some of the behind-the-scenes goings on.

About 15,000 of the region’s top racing camels are competing in 360 races in an attempt to win a share of Dh80 million in prizes, in cars and cash. This is the climax of the annual camel racing diary and attracts thousands of enthusiastic spectators who brave the hot temperatures over 12 days. Camel owners and trainers drive alongside the track, with small devices to control their robotic jockeys, and VIPs enjoy the action from the cooler, indoor grandstand. The races begin at 6am each day but are usually over within a few hours.

The afternoon session starts at 2:30pm. To watch some of the action before the races finish, head to the Al Wathba Camel Race Track, about 45km east of Exit 47 on the Abu Dhabi / Al Ain Road.

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