18th annual camel race festival begins in RAK

Sheikh Saud watched the camel race as hundreds of camel race enthusiasts from across GCC countries celebrated the traditional sport- cheering and applauding the camels as they galloped towards the finish line.

The entire race was relayed live on a huge display screen at the spectator's gallery through a mobile camera unit, which tracked the camels during the entire 5- kilometre long race.

Sheikh Khalid bin Saud Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Masafi Sports Club, Sheikh Saqr bin Saud Al Qasimi, Chairman of Al Tawun Sports Club, Sheikh Jamal bin Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the organizing committee of the camel race festival, and a number of officials were present to witness the inaugural day race.

The camel race organizers expect to witness at least 30% increase in the number of participants this year. The finals of the camel race will be held on February 5, marking the end of the annual event.

Several new competitions have been introduced in this year's festival with the intention of enhancing the popularity and traditional appeal of the camel race, including a unique contest for selecting the camel producing highest yield of milk.

The camel owned by Saeed Salem bin Rashid bin Humaid Al Khatiri, won the first prize in the competition by yielding 7.35 kg of milk in the pure-bred Arabian category. Suhail bin Najerat Al Ameri's camel won the prize in the category of crossbreed camels by yielding 7.04 kg of milk.