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PL Camel racing in Dubai27.02.2025
Dubai Crown Prince Camel Festival, takes place at the beginning of every year. The event takes place at the Al Marmoom Camel Race Track and here is some good news, for tourists the entrance is free. The main patron of these competitions is the son and successor of the current ruling Sheikh of Dubai, Prince […]
Dubai Crown Prince Camel Festival, takes place at the beginning of every year. The event takes place at the Al Marmoom Camel Race Track and here is some good news, for tourists the entrance is free. The main patron of these competitions is the son and successor of the current ruling Sheikh of Dubai, Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Prizes for winning camel races
If you want to experience the true spirit of the Emirates, this is worth seeing. Camel racing is often called the “sport of kings” and it’s no wonder when the prizes for first place in the races are AED 1.5 million. The prize amounts for the next places are no more modest, and you can see the entire list of prizes awarded this year here: Schedule .
FThe festival lasts 10 days and takes place on slightly different dates each year. In 2025, there were 310 rounds of racing with over 10,000 camels taking part. The whole event is a wonderful display of the history of the Emirates and the enduring bond between the people of the UAE and their beloved camels. It combines the charm of ancient traditions with the excitement of modern competition and is a perfect representation of the Emirates of today.
Preparing the camels for the race
The camels are brought to the racetrack in special vehicles and then warmed up in the square. They look very well cared for, each animal is wrapped in colorful blankets and has its own personal caretaker who takes care of its comfort.
When it’s time for the race, the camels are moved to the next boxes, where they are stripped of their warming blankets and prepared for the start. Since 2005, when human jockeys were banned, a robot jockey has been mounted on the animal. Its task is to prod the camel during the race with a paw mounted on the device.
Start and finish
The races are very exciting, but we recommend taking binoculars with you because a large part of the races take place quite a distance from the start and finish. The race track is located at the Dubai Camel Racing Club right next to the hospital and camel laboratory. It is one of the largest and most popular race tracks in the emirates.
After the start, cars with their owners driving them start, loudly cheering on their competitor. A wide asphalted track has been built by the camel track to accommodate all the cars racing through the clouds of sand. I admit that it looks a bit like a double race, one for the camels and the other for the cars. When one of the rounds reaches the finish line, another one starts a moment later. There is only enough time for the camel owners to drive from the finish line to the starting square and start again with a new group.
How to get there
Al Marmoom Camel Race Track can be reached by car or taxi. As it is located in the desert, it is not accessible by metro. The property is located on the Al Ain – Dubai/E 66 motorway and is a 30-minute drive from the city center.