Camel Racing

Camel Racing

Camels are an integral part of the history and culture of the UAE.  Local people revere camels; it is, in fact, an honor to own a camel.  Families exchange camels as a woman’s dowry.  Camels traded and bartered for other good.  Camels are transportation for goods and people.  Camels have adaptations and traits that make them ideal for a desert environment.  They can survive on small amounts food and water.  Locals sell camel milk and camel meat.  It cost approximately 700 dhs per month to feed and house a camel.  Camel races held.  After the unification of the UAE, the leadership immediately recognized that the sport of camel racing was something that could unite the varied peoples of the Emiratis.  The people of the UAE consider camels to be magnificent animals; they even hold camel beauty pageants. Sale prices for a camel can range from 7000 to over one million dhs.

         Originally, camel races would be at weddings and festivals.  Historians can trace camel racing back to the seventh century.  Camel racing is something that unites the people of the UAE from rich to poor across all demographics.  In the 1970’s camel racing started to develop as an organized and recognized sport.  In 1971, a sheik Zayed built the first track.  Eventually, more and more money poured into the camel racing.   In the 80’s construction of racetracks and prize money multiplied.  As camel racing grew more and more competitive, lightweight child-jockeys came into favor.  At first, the jockeys were local but due to the extremely high danger of injury or death, owners started bringing in children from Pakistan and India.  Camel racing is of course extremely dangerous.  Genetically camels are not runners, at least to for any extended period.  When camels run, it is awkward and makes it difficult for the rider.  One report stated that over 40,000 children worked at one time, as child jockeys in the Gulf States.  Reports leaked to the press of children as young as two or three riding camels as well as reports of sexual and physical abuse.  The UAE banned human jockeys in 2003 and since that time robots have replaced humans.  The robot is in the form of a rider, operated by remote control.  Most owners would prefer to see real riders, but the stain of the “child-jockey” controversy still hangs over camel racing.  The latest version of robots are cheap and produced locally. The robots weigh only a few kilograms.  Prize money varies but averages around 700000 dhs for the winner of a race.  It is much akin to horseracing in the United States and the UK.  The camels are drug tested to prevent steroid use and owners spend vast sums feeding them taking into account everything from water purity to vitamin percentages to attain perfect nutrition and give the camels the best possible conditions to stay healthy and race to their highest potential.   

  The future of camel racing is bright.  A broad cross section of society follows camel racing.  Camel races have many sponsors, and people look forward to watching them live and on television.  Prize money and the money in general invested in camel racing continues to increase every year.  The sport of camel racing positively contributes the economy in the UAE.  Camel racing has a long and rich history with the locals. Camel Racing Interview with Mr. Ahmed Almuhairi