The Governor of Riyadh crowns the winners at the conclusion of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Camel Festival 3
Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, attended the closing ceremony of the third edition of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Camel Festival this evening. This major heritage sporting event saw wide participation from 11 countries, reflecting the growing international prominence of this time-honored sport.
This festival reflects the great importance the wise leadership places on the camel racing sector, recognizing it as an authentic cultural and civilizational heritage deeply connected to the history and national identity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom, represented by the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Camel Racing Federation, is working to develop this sport and elevate it to the ranks of international sports, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, which aims to enhance quality of life and preserve national heritage.
Upon the arrival of His Royal Highness the Prince of Riyadh at the venue of the ceremony in the historic Janadriyah Square, he was received by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and His Highness Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Vice President of the Olympic and Paralympic Committee and President of the Saudi Camel Racing Federation, along with a number of senior officials.
The ceremony began with the national anthem, followed by the four final races, each covering a distance of 6 kilometers, featuring 65 elite camels. The races witnessed fierce competition among leading owners from both within and outside the Kingdom, all vying for the valuable prizes offered by the organizing committee, which exceeded 75 million Saudi riyals in total value, clearly demonstrating the scale and importance of the event.
The final results revealed a remarkable dominance of Gulf camels, with the following outcomes: In the first heat, "Zamoul - General," the camel "Al Ghazal," owned by Emirati Mohammed Al Muhairi, secured first place with a time of 12:40.253 minutes, winning the rifle and the trainer's shield. In the second heat, "Zamoul - Open," the camel "Nahab," owned by the UAE Presidential Camel Racing Team, won the rifle and shield with a time of 12:33.278 minutes. The third heat, "Heel - General," was won by the camel "Aaliyah," owned by Emirati Ahmed Al Khubaili, who claimed the sword and cup with a time of 12:27.890 minutes.
In the fourth heat, the "Open" category, the camel "Al-Haba" from Al-Shahaniya Camels of Qatar shone, securing first place and the sword with a time of 12:17.193 minutes. Emirati owner Hamad Al-Amiri was also crowned champion, winning the "Saudi Sword" prize and 3 million riyals after topping the points with 196.5 points. At the conclusion of the event, Prince Faisal bin Bandar honored the sponsors and organizing committees, praising the professional organization that enhances the Kingdom's standing as a global destination for hosting major sporting events.
