AmericanBadu

Taif – September 6, 2025

The Crown Prince Camel Festival 2025 entered its fourth day with Saudi Arabia extending its dominance in the Laqāyā (لقايا – laqāyā, camels around 3 years old) category, while experts and officials highlighted the cultural and global significance of the event.

Saudi Sweep in Laqāyā

Saudi-owned camels stormed through the Laqāyā heats, capturing 30 out of 33 races, leaving only two wins for the UAE and one for Qatar. A total of 1,438 camels competed across morning and evening sessions at the historic Taif track.

The standout performance came from “Al-Muttaḥid” (المتحد – al-muttaḥid), owned by Abdulrahim Hamad Al-ʿAnmi, who set the fastest time of the day in the 12th morning heat at 6:04.346 minutes.

With the Ḥaqāyq (حقايق – ḥaqāyiq, 2-year-olds) already completed earlier in the week, Saudi Arabia leads the festival’s overall tally with 97 wins and two Cups, followed by Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Tomorrow marks the climax of the Laqāyā division with four Crown Prince Cups:

Bikār (بكار – fillies) Open & General Cups – total prize money 1.275 million SAR per heat, including 700,000 SAR for first place. Qaʿdān (قعدان – colts) Open & General Cups – total prize money 925,000 SAR per heat, including 500,000 SAR for first place.

Expert Analysis: The Prestige of Laqāyā

Camel racing expert Abdullah Al-Sharif stressed that Laqāyā is one of the most prestigious divisions in the sport. “The Cups in this category are the most important for elite owners,” he explained. “That’s why there is so much investment in buying ḥaqāyiq camels to prepare them for Laqāyā.”

He added: “Laqāyā is beloved because the camels continue to race for many years, moving up to higher categories each season. Owners see this as a long-term journey of records and achievements.”

On tomorrow’s finals, Al-Sharif predicted fierce competition: “I expect the trophies to be shared between Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. The quality herds are spread across these countries, and the Cups will be closely contested.”

A Cultural Showcase to the World

Beyond the track, the festival has become a cultural and economic force. Dr. Mardhi Al-Khumʿali, spokesman for the Saudi Camel Federation, emphasized that the event has successfully marketed authentic Arab culture worldwide.

“This festival is no longer just a sporting event,” he said. “It is an economic, social, and cultural movement. Under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, camel racing has become a platform to showcase the heritage of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf to international audiences.”

Held each summer in Al-ʿArfāʾ, east of Taif, the festival coincides with the maqīḍ (مقيض – the seasonal gathering place for camel owners). The site has become a hub for leading camel owners, trainers, and racing teams, blending tradition with modern professionalism.

Since its launch seven years ago, the festival has recorded over 100,000 camel entries, multiple Guinness World Records, and an economic impact that extends from tourism and transport to agriculture and trade. “No one could have imagined camel racing would one day become a subject of international attention,” Dr. Al-Khumʿali concluded, “but this is the fruit of the Crown Prince’s vision.”