Under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the activities of the sixth edition of the Crown Prince Camel Festival commenced today, Saturday. Organized by the Saudi Arabian Camel Federation, the festival runs from August 10 to September 10 at the Taif Camel Racing Field.
The festival kicks off with preliminary heats lasting for 12 consecutive days, held in two sessions: a morning session at 6:30 AM and an evening session at 3:00 PM, following the completion of all preparations and arrangements by the organizing committee for the Taif Province field.
The total prize value for this new edition exceeds 56 million riyals, with a large number of local and international camel owners competing in the approved camel categories: Mufarid, Haqaiq, Lqaya, Jdh'aa, Thnaia, Hail, and Zumul. The festival will last for 23 days and include 610 races, comprising 360 races in the preliminary stage and 250 in the final stage.
On this occasion, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to King Salman bin Abdulaziz for his great interest in the sports sector in general and camel racing in particular, and to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his generous patronage, which everyone is proud of. He emphasized that this reflects his continuous support for the sports sector and his commitment to supporting various sports, including the ancient camel races, aiming to develop and promote them as a representation of the authenticity and historical richness of our beloved kingdom. He wished success to all participants and camel racing enthusiasts.
For his part, Prince Fahd bin Jiluwi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaid, Vice President of the Olympic and Paralympic Committee and President of the Saudi Camel Federation, extended his gratitude on behalf of the federation's board members to the Crown Prince for his generous patronage of the Camel Festival, affirming that this support is a source of pride and honor for every athlete and youth of the nation, especially in camel racing.
The previous editions of the festival, which began its first edition in 2018, witnessed significant attendance from camel racing enthusiasts worldwide. The festival aims to root and enhance the camel heritage within Saudi culture, having achieved substantial economic returns through various events that support the traditional heritage and enhance its preservation and development, reflecting the cultural depth of the kingdom. All festival activities focus on establishing the camel heritage in Saudi, Arab, and Islamic culture.
