The festival has begun at the camel racetrack in Al Marmoun. Reem Mohammed / The National
The festival has begun at the camel racetrack in Al Marmoun. Reem Mohammed / The National

Dh95 million in prizes for Dubai's fastest camels



The fastest camels in the Gulf will compete for cash, swords, rifles and luxury vehicles totalling Dh95 million at the first annual Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Camel Race Festival in Dubai.

The festival has begun at the camel racetrack in Al Marmoun. Races run daily from 7am to 10am and 2pm to 5pm until Tuesday, February 20.

The festival is set become one of the largest annual fixtures on the Gulf camel racing circuit, which runs from October to April.

“There is prize money and there are daggers and there are swords to be won,” said Rashid Ali, a press editor at the Dubai Camel Racing Club.

Races are categorised by age and ownership. As is traditional, camels owned by sheikhs and camels owned by tribesmen compete in separate categories.

Races are mixed sex, except for mature camels ages six and up. These will will compete in eight-kilometre races in male (zamool) and female (hool) categories on the last three days from February 18 to February 20.

The fastest mature male will win a dagger and Dh800,000.

The fastest mature female will win a gold-plated sword and Dh1million.

“Usually the hool is respected more than the male because it has the stamina and sometimes the prizes for the hool will be better,” said Mr Ali.

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These races will serve as qualifiers for the 2017-2018 season finals in April.

Those looking to break into this lucrative sport can attend auctions on Monday and Tuesday. More than 300 naturally conceived camels will be auctioned by independent Gulf breeders. They are expected to sell from Dh300,000.

Tourists and camel novices are welcome to join. Free shuttle buses to the track from Dubai Mall and Union Square RTA bus stops will leave daily 12pm and return at 5pm. Conservative dress is recommended. Women and men should keep their shoulders and legs covered.

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

THE BIO

Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old

Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai

Favourite Book: The Alchemist

Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna

Favourite cuisine: Italian food

Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman

 

 

Results

2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m

Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).

2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m

Winner: Mamia Al Reef, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.

3.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m

Winner: Jaahiz, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.

3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m

Winner: Qanoon, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.

4.15pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Cup Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 1,700m.

Winner: Philosopher, Tadhg O’Shea, Salem bin Ghadayer.

54.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m

Winner: Jap Al Yassoob, Fernando Jara, Irfan Ellahi.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat