The Crown Prince Camel Festival in Taif launched its seventh edition with an electrifying start on the historic Taif track, where heritage and competition collided in spectacular fashion.
On Day One, the spotlight fell on the ḥaqāyiq class (فئة الحقايق, fi’at al-haqāyiq), the youngest category of racing camels. A total of 31 heats (أشواط, ashwāt) were contested over a 2 km course, featuring an impressive 1,495 camels across both morning and evening sessions. Each شوط (shawt, heat) is a standalone race, and together they formed a full day of relentless action.
Saudi Dominance on the Track
Saudi-owned camels captured 25 of the 31 أشواط (ashwāt), a commanding 80.6 percent win rate. Qatar secured four victories, while the UAE and Kuwait each claimed one. The fastest run of the day came from Watan (وطن, Watan), owned by Khalil Salem Al-Bateen, finishing the 2 km in just 3 minutes 2.066 seconds—an average speed of 39.5 km per hour. The prestigious opening شوط (shawt) title went to Spark (سبارك, Spark), owned by Rashid Assaf Al-Shammari.
Scale and Prestige
This year’s festival features a staggering 249 أشواط (ashwāt) overall, including five hajānā races (سباقات للهجانة, sabāqāt lil-hajānā) for both men and women. The total prize pool exceeds 50 million SAR, underscoring how camel racing in Saudi Arabia has evolved from a local pastime into a professionally structured heritage sport with international attention.
Heritage Meets Economy
The festival is not only a sporting event but also a cultural and economic driver. Local hotel and housing occupancy surged by 120 percent, particularly in Al-Hawiyah (الحوية, al-ḥawiyah), Al-‘Urfā (العرفاء, al-‘urfā), and Ashayrah (عشيرة, ‘ashīrah). Seasonal employment rose, transport and feed sales spiked, and fruit vendors on the Taif–Al-Shafā (الشفا, al-shafā) roads reported booming sales.
Heritage at Work
Since its inception in 2018, the Crown Prince Camel Festival has not only celebrated a centuries-old tradition but also modernized it with professional organization, international coverage, and innovation. Camel racing here is more than heritage on display—it is heritage at work.
فالكم الناموس
(falkum al-nāmūs), wishing victory to all the competitors.
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