Camel Caravan hosts glittering gala auction

More more than 70 camels will be auctioned to raise money for children's charities and for the development of arts and culture in Dubai.

The news was announced today at a press conference featuring Col. Saeed Matar Beleilah, President of Dubai Rotary Club; Hussain Al Jaziri, Hon. Secretary of Dubai Rotary Club; H. Kenneth Palmer, Camel Caravan; and Patricia Palmer, Camel Caravan. Members of the media received a first-hand look at a handful of camel artworks on public display at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

At the upcoming gala event, to be held under the stars at Dubai Internet City, more than 500 guests will be invited to take part in a live auction for the hand-painted fiberglass camels which have adorned the streets and public spaces of Dubai since the beginning of the Dubai Shopping Festival. Both the six-foot-tall and the smaller two-foot-tall camels will be auctioned at the event, under the auspices of Christies, the world-renowned auction house.

'Since the camels were released onto the streets of Dubai in January, they have attracted tremendous attention from residents and tourists. Based on the high level of interest, we expect lively and competitive bidding from business leaders, celebrities and society figures who will be attending the gala event,' said Ken Palmer, Project Director from Dubai-based ArtWorks, the driving force behind the Camel Caravan initiative.

For two weeks after the gala event, individuals and corporations can bid online for their favorite camel via the Camel Caravan's official website. Funds raised will benefit organizations including Al Noor Center for Special Needs; Emirates Children's Symphony Orchestra; Afghan Children's Fund, Dubai Autism Center; Dubai Center for Special Needs; Médecins Sans Frontières; Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre, Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, and Riding for the Disabled Association of Dubai.

Camel Caravan officials noted that both individuals and corporations are expected to buy the works of art for a variety of reasons. 'Buyers may donate camels to their favorite charity, school or public organization. Still other camel artworks will enhance buyers' private collections, and we anticipate that many will remain in the public view with the active approval of the new owners. We fully expect to see beautiful camels in the Dubai public arena for a long time to come,' Palmer continued.

Guests expected to attend the gala event - including sponsors, key sponsors, charity patrons and royal family representatives - will dine on gourmet fare during what is expected to be a hotly-contested, fast-paced live auction. Additionally, these guests will be the first to see the entire array of camels displayed in one place.

'The diverse herd of painted camels, which will be on display for the first time ever at the live auction, will be a dynamic diversion for our guests. We anticipate that these beautiful artworks, created by dozens of renowned artists, will inspire collectors and decision-makers to avidly bid at auction with the knowledge that they're directly assisting those less fortunate, including children around the region,' said Palmer.

Following the gala event, the entire collection of 80 camels will be on display for viewing by the general public at Dubai Internet City for up to one week.

A number of the UAE's decision-makers have shown crucial support for the 'arts-meets-charity' initiative. Camel Caravan revealed that His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has demonstrated his interest in the program and is selecting four of the large camels for his private collection. HH Sheikh Maktoum's camel artworks will continue to be on public exhibition until the program is finished.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, has also taken an interest in the project, making a surprise visit to the Camel Caravan premises. A noted calligrapher has painted a 'poetic camel' with a specially selected poem written by HH Sheikh Mohammed, which will be publicly exhibited in the next several days and is widely expected to be one of the favorites of the event.

Other major Camel Caravan supporters include: Dubai Rotary Club and its patron Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Group; Dubai Shopping Festival; Dubai Municipality; and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Camels from the caravan will be in prominent locations in the month prior to the gala auction for the viewing pleasure of Dubai residents and tourists. Local and international golf enthusiasts at the Dubai Desert Classic will get a close-up look at the artworks displayed throughout the competition. In the run-up to the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, painted camels will be showcased at HH Sheikh Mohammed's gala 'Arabian Nights' dinner in the desert and in highly visible locations on the race day itself.