Annual Camel Racing Championship Concludes in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan attends the final day of the traditional racing event at Al Wathba
The fifth day of the 2025 Annual Camel Racing Championship, held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, took place at the Al Wathba race track in Abu Dhabi.
The event attracted top competing camels vying for prestigious titles in various categories.
The competition featured 24 races throughout the day, with the morning session comprising 20 races focused on production categories, and an afternoon session highlighting open and local categories over a distance of 6 kilometers.
Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, an advisor to the UAE President and head of the Emirates Camel Racing Federation, attended the event, which included fierce competition among participants seeking to claim the esteemed titles.
Notable performances were recorded from the stables of prominent owners including Ma'an Ali Hamad Al Shamsi, Muhammad Sultan Murkhan Al Ketbi, and Hamid Saeed Al Neyadi.
In the first major open race, Al Shamsi's camel ‘Bajha’ secured victory, winning the first title for the years of local camels from the tribes, along with a monetary award of 1.5 million dirhams and finishing the race in a time of 8:56:08 minutes.
'Al Soliya', also from Al Shamsi's stable, followed closely behind.
The third position was claimed by 'Al Madinah' from Muhammad Sultan Murkhan Al Ketbi.
The second major open race also saw Al Shamsi’s ‘Al Soli’ triumph, earning the title for male camels with a cash prize of 1 million dirhams, clocking in at 8:56:09 minutes.
Meanwhile, Al Ketbi claimed victory in the third title race with 'Al Thiba,' taking home the cup and a prize of 1 million dirhams after finishing in a time of 8:58:78 minutes.
In the fourth main race, Al Neyadi’s camel ‘Al Wa’i’ fetched the title for male local camels, concluding the race in 9:01:83 minutes, while ‘Manawer’ and ‘Al Ghazal’ finished second and third, respectively.
In the production categories, ‘Maqtha’ won the title for local female camels, awarding the owner, Essa Saeed Al Khaili, a financial prize of 1 million dirhams and finishing in a time of 8:57:08 minutes.
The title for male local production camels went to 'Al Asad' from Al Harsoosi’s stable, who received a cash prize of 800,000 dirhams.
Al Harsoosi achieved another victory with his camel ‘Al Maria’ in the category of mixed-breed production camels, earning 1 million dirhams for a time of 8:59:02 minutes.
The event concluded with ‘Shaheen’ from Bakhit Nasser Al Noby Al Ameri winning the title for mixed-breed production male camels with a finishing time of 8:55:03 minutes.
The competitions are set to continue today with local camels from the ruling families competing for two primary titles in the evening.
The event attracted top competing camels vying for prestigious titles in various categories.
The competition featured 24 races throughout the day, with the morning session comprising 20 races focused on production categories, and an afternoon session highlighting open and local categories over a distance of 6 kilometers.
Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, an advisor to the UAE President and head of the Emirates Camel Racing Federation, attended the event, which included fierce competition among participants seeking to claim the esteemed titles.
Notable performances were recorded from the stables of prominent owners including Ma'an Ali Hamad Al Shamsi, Muhammad Sultan Murkhan Al Ketbi, and Hamid Saeed Al Neyadi.
In the first major open race, Al Shamsi's camel ‘Bajha’ secured victory, winning the first title for the years of local camels from the tribes, along with a monetary award of 1.5 million dirhams and finishing the race in a time of 8:56:08 minutes.
'Al Soliya', also from Al Shamsi's stable, followed closely behind.
The third position was claimed by 'Al Madinah' from Muhammad Sultan Murkhan Al Ketbi.
The second major open race also saw Al Shamsi’s ‘Al Soli’ triumph, earning the title for male camels with a cash prize of 1 million dirhams, clocking in at 8:56:09 minutes.
Meanwhile, Al Ketbi claimed victory in the third title race with 'Al Thiba,' taking home the cup and a prize of 1 million dirhams after finishing in a time of 8:58:78 minutes.
In the fourth main race, Al Neyadi’s camel ‘Al Wa’i’ fetched the title for male local camels, concluding the race in 9:01:83 minutes, while ‘Manawer’ and ‘Al Ghazal’ finished second and third, respectively.
In the production categories, ‘Maqtha’ won the title for local female camels, awarding the owner, Essa Saeed Al Khaili, a financial prize of 1 million dirhams and finishing in a time of 8:57:08 minutes.
The title for male local production camels went to 'Al Asad' from Al Harsoosi’s stable, who received a cash prize of 800,000 dirhams.
Al Harsoosi achieved another victory with his camel ‘Al Maria’ in the category of mixed-breed production camels, earning 1 million dirhams for a time of 8:59:02 minutes.
The event concluded with ‘Shaheen’ from Bakhit Nasser Al Noby Al Ameri winning the title for mixed-breed production male camels with a finishing time of 8:55:03 minutes.
The competitions are set to continue today with local camels from the ruling families competing for two primary titles in the evening.
