A group of adventurers on camels who braved the desert heat in a test of teamwork and stamina were cheered and applauded at the end of their 13-day journey in Dubai on Tuesday.
The 29 camel trekkers travelled 640 kilometres across the UAE’s deserts from Liwa’s Empty Quarter in Abu Dhabi and were given a warm welcome at Dubai’s Expo 2020 site.
This is the eighth edition of the camel trek organised by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre that invites explorers annually on a unique journey across the sands.
The caravan of trekkers from 21 countries received a surprise visit on their penultimate day in the desert on Monday when Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, stopped by to congratulate them and waved them onward.
The annual trek is open to people above 18 and aims to teach them the survival skills of the Bedouin during a challenging desert voyage.
The participants were shortlisted from almost 300 people who registered for the intensive camel riding training programme organised by the centre.
The participants require a high level of fitness and are taught how to ride in a caravan as part of an initiative that preserves an age-old Emirati tradition.
The caravan ended their journey at the Expo site with well-wishers sending messages hailing a journey that promotes dialogue between cultures, encourages tolerance and coexistence using traditional methods.
The caravan followed a prepared route with the trekkers resting at camping stations across the desert.
The yearly trek is a testimony to teamwork and passes on the heritage of the Emirates to international and local participants.
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Scoreline
Australia 2-1 Thailand
Australia: Juric 69', Leckie 86'
Thailand: Pokklaw 82'
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,200 metres
Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Younis Kalbani (trainer)
5.30pm: UAE Arabian Derby (PA) | Prestige | Dh150,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Octave, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 (PA) | Group 3 Dh300,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Harrab, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Ali
6.30pm: Emirates Championship (PA) | Group 1 | Dh1million | 2,200m
Winner: BF Mughader, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (TB) | Group 3 | Dh380,000 | 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) | Conditions | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF La’Asae, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Company%20profile
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PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
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