• Camels mounted with robot jockeys start a race. Owners of winning camels can look forward to trophies that include luxury cars and a top prize of more than half a million dollars.
    Camels mounted with robot jockeys start a race. Owners of winning camels can look forward to trophies that include luxury cars and a top prize of more than half a million dollars.
  • With the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in the background, a keeper feeds dates to female camels, at the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack.
    With the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in the background, a keeper feeds dates to female camels, at the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack.
  • Camels run towards the finish line as their owners in SUVs control the robotic jockeys from cars.
    Camels run towards the finish line as their owners in SUVs control the robotic jockeys from cars.
  • A marshal tries to control the camels behind the start barrier a few seconds ahead of a race.
    A marshal tries to control the camels behind the start barrier a few seconds ahead of a race.
  • A camel keeper carries robotic jockeys ahead of a race at the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack.
    A camel keeper carries robotic jockeys ahead of a race at the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack.
  • Camel keepers bring their camels inside the official racing compound ahead of a race.
    Camel keepers bring their camels inside the official racing compound ahead of a race.
  • Camel owners in their SUVs follow their camels as a race starts at the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack.
    Camel owners in their SUVs follow their camels as a race starts at the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack.
  • A keeper walks camels to the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack, in Al Lisaili about 40km south-east of Dubai.
    A keeper walks camels to the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack, in Al Lisaili about 40km south-east of Dubai.
  • Camel keepers make final preparation of their camels before the start point of a race.
    Camel keepers make final preparation of their camels before the start point of a race.
  • A camel keeper tries to control his camel ahead of a race at the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack.
    A camel keeper tries to control his camel ahead of a race at the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack.

UAE

Camels gallop to victory in Dubai — in pictures

The National staff

April 19, 2017

  • English
  • Arabic

As rising temperatures across Gulf signal the end of the winter camel racing season, Dubai is wrapping up its races with the annual Al Marmoom Heritage Festival that has drawn thousands of camels from across the region.

All photos by Kamran Jebreili / AP

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