Every Friday, as the Sun prepares to call it a day, crowds start to gather around a metal-fenced area opposite the Fujairah corniche to watch pickup vans unload ferocious but beautiful animals with floppy ears and large humps. The Brahman bulls are here to take part in a bullfighting competition. But unlike Spanish and Portuguese bullfights, this one is with a difference — it is not bloody and there are no matadors and trophies.
Abdullah Khamis, a 19-year-old Fujairah resident who has never missed a bullfighting competition since he was 5, said the game is played more for prestige and honour among the locals. "It is a matter of pride for the bull owners when their animals win."
The bull that manages to push his rival towards the edge of the fighting arena is declared the winner. Each fight lasts for just over a minute, after which the owners who sit inside the fighting arena rush to restrain their respective hooved gladiators. But there are instances when one of the two bulls becomes aggressive during the match and goes after his rival with a vengeance, driving him towards the spectators who dare to take their seats inside the fighting arena.
Entertaining tradition
"It is usually the bull owners who sit inside the arena. There is no question of being scared of the bulls, as the owners are well aware of how to get the animals under control," Khamis said. Excitement builds up as spectators from all over the emirate gather to watch the bulls lock horns. Many of them are families, who pose for photographs with their children standing next to the humped beasts. There are also those who prefer to watch the competition in the safety of their 4WDs.
A commentator in his own style calls out the names of all the hooved contenders that add to the charged atmosphere. Interestingly, there are a few peace lovers among these competitors who, despite being egged on by their owners, refuse to lock horns and opt to make a quick retreat, causing embarrassment for their owners.
The match is supervised by Ali Abdullah, an elderly gentleman who is well versed in the rules of the game. His decision on when to end the fight and declare the winner is final. "Bullfighting is a tradition in Fujairah," he said. "It is entertainment but it is also a matter of pride for the bull owners when their animals win. There is no judging which animal is good or bad. The animal which butts its opponent for the maximum minutes is the winner."
Fact file
- The contest is between two Brahman bulls and is bloodless.
- The bull that butts the other for over a minute is the winner.
- Time: 5pm
- Place: opposite Fujairah corniche
- Takes place every Friday.
- The fight is postponed if someone dies in the emirate.
