Dubai: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, has reiterated his commitment to promoting the time-honoured Arab sport of camel racing.
He has urged UAE citizens, and GCC nations, to revive the cultural traditions of the Gulf nations and to encourage local, regional and international visitors to camel racing events.
As a result he has offered his support for the first edition of the HE Crown Prince of Dubai Camel Racing Festival, which is currently being held at the Al Marmoom Smart Camel Racetrack.
Shaikh Hamdan is determined that the country’s rich heritage passes on to future generations because camel racing keeps cultural roots alive.
The 2018 Festival also pushes the boundaries of technology and creativity to offer a one-of-a-kind fun-filled festival attracting fans from around the globe.
The festival is organised by the Dubai Camel Racing Club (DCRC) under the supervision of Ali Saeed Bin Saroud, General Manager and CEO, who has successfully managed to make this event a main attraction on the Dubai Cultural Events Calendar.
The first two days of the Festival featured races for the youngest camels aged 2-years, in the ‘Haqaqa Category — He and She Camels’, owned by Tribesmen. Prizes featured cash, Crown Prince of Dubai Trophy, daggers and rifles and luxury 4-Wheel Drive vehicles.
The inaugural race was run over 20 laps covering a distance of 4 kilometres. A total of 11 races were designated for the Haqaqa Abkar ‘female — camel’ and nine for the Haqaqa Jeadan ‘Male camel.
The female camel Mutaa (meaning Enjoyment), owned by Mattar Hamad Muhsin Al Falahi, grasped the first prize of Dh10,000 by covering the distance in a time of 05:52:09 minutes.
The morning session on the second day involved 20 races with 20 luxury 4-Wheel Drive vehicles on offer for each winner.
The first of this was won by Salim Saif Bin Ghadayer, when he sent his brilliant female camel, ‘Shawaheen (Grey and strong Falcon) to win in a time of 05:53:03 minutes.
During the evening session, the DCRC were honoured with the presence of the event’s patron, Shaikh Hamdan himself.
The third and final race for the HE Dubai Crown Prince Trophy, designed for the Haqaqa Category over 15 laps, was won the Saudi Arabian-owned female camel Al Dheeba (Wolf female). His owner. Nayef Auda Sulaiman Al Abyawani, won the Trophy and Dh250,000.
The outstanding winner on the day was Al Abjar, owned by Salim Mohammad Zewaib Al Amri won the Open Jeadan Camels category in a time of 05:44:8 minutes. It was the best time recorded on the day and Al Amri won a trophy and Dh200,000.
The third open lap was allocated for Local Reproductive Abkar camels, which did witness the skilful she — camel ‘Annwah’ owned by Saeed Sultan Mohammad Al Arryani, win the H.E. Dubai Crown Prince Trophy and Dh250,000, in a time of 05:51:9 minutes in the 5km race.
The Festival is held under the directive of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
