• Camels at the start line at Al Marmoum Race Track. The fastest camels in the Arabian 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. All photos by Reem Mohammed / The National
    Camels at the start line at Al Marmoum Race Track. The fastest camels in the Arabian 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. All photos by Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Handlers watch the camels race off the start line.
    Handlers watch the camels race off the start line.
  • Races run daily from 7am to 10am and 2pm to 5pm until Tuesday, February 20.
    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.
    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.
    “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 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.
    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 male will win a dagger and Dh800,000.
  • The fastest mature female will win a gold-plated sword and Dh1million.
    The fastest mature female will win a gold-plated sword and Dh1million.
  • Robot jockeys at Al Marmoum Camel Race Track.
    Robot jockeys at Al Marmoum Camel Race Track.
  • These races will serve as qualifiers for the 2017-2018 season finals in April.
    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.
    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.
  • Camels and their caretakers get ready behind Al Marmoum Race Track.
    Camels and their caretakers get ready behind Al Marmoum Race Track.
  • Tourists and camel novices are welcome to join.
    Tourists and camel novices are welcome to join.

Heritage

Under starter's orders at Dubai's Camel Race Festival - in pictures

The first annual Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Camel Race Festival runs until February 20

The National

February 16, 2018

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