Located deep within the United Arab Emirates, the age-old tradition of camel racing is experiencing a revival like never before. The region’s rapid growth from a mere gulf outpost to a thriving economic hotspot has resulted in prize money for winning camels skyrocketing to over $2 million.
In a recent sale, a bull camel fetched a staggering 35 million Dirham, equivalent to over $9.5 million. The allure of camel racing is deeply embedded in the culture and tradition of the Emirates, as expressed by accomplished endurance rider Hussain al Marzooqi, who told CNN, “It’s part of the tradition, it’s part of the culture. There’s hardly a house you can find that doesn’t have a camel owner in it.”
While camel racing has been around for centuries, technological advancements are now reshaping the sport. Since the ban on child riders in 2002, small robotic jockeys have replaced humans, leading to a more humane form of racing. These robots, weighing no more than 4kg, come equipped with a walkie-talkie speaker for owners to give commands to the camels and a small automatic whip controlled remotely.
A convoy of cars trails alongside the camels during races, allowing owners to regulate the speed of the robot’s whip. Al Marzooqi shared his views on the use of robotic jockeys, stating, “It’s sound thinking to put a robot on a young camel. Before it used to be young riders on them but the UAE has always wanted to go forward doing the correct thing.”
The sheer scale of the business surrounding camel racing necessitates significant investment. Racing camels undergo weekly blood tests and adhere to specialized diets. Al Marzooqi shed light on the extravagant expenses involved, with some trainers spending exorbitant amounts on honey for their camels.
He mentioned, “I know some trainers that buy honey for their camels for about 12,000 Dirhams ($3,250) per kilogram. Some of these camels really get treated well. The average cost of keeping a camel here would be 4,000-5,000 Dirhams ($1,000-1,300) per month. It’s on a par with keeping a thoroughbred.”
With track lengths varying between 1.5 and 8 kilometers, and newly trained camels covering two to three kilometers per day, the training regimen for camels mirrors that of thoroughbred horses. Al Marzooqi emphasized the similarities, stating, “You have the feeding, you have the keeping the weight, you have the cardio work, then you have the strength work. Camels have been domesticated for a very long time; some say even before the horse.”
As the sport of camel racing continues to evolve with the integration of cutting-edge technology and significant capital investment, it remains a beloved tradition deeply rooted in the culture of the United Arab Emirates.