Saudi camel Mutaba claims fastest time at Crown Prince Camel Festival opener in Taif
Mutaba wins the opening race at the Crown Prince Camel Festival in Taif, posting the fastest time among 1,640 entrants in the Haqayeq category.
Key Takeaways
AISaudi-owned camel Mutaba, belonging to Suleiman Salamah Al-Juhani, won the opening race of the Crown Prince Camel Festival in the Haqayeq category for public 'Bakar' races, recording the fastest time of 2:53.932 minutes on the festival’s opening day at the historic Taif racecourse.
The first day of the festival’s eighth edition, organized by the Saudi Camel Federation under the patronage of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, saw 1,640 camels compete across 38 races held in morning and evening sessions over a 2-kilometer distance.
Race details and prize distribution
The morning session featured 921 camels across 21 races, while the evening session saw 719 camels compete in 17 races. The organizing committee allocated SAR 13.3 million in prizes for the Haqayeq category, with SAR 1.8 million for the morning session and SAR 1.5 million for the evening session.
Saudi camels claimed victory in nine evening races, while Emirati camels won four, Qatari camels three, and Kuwaiti camels one.
Ongoing competition and impact of support
The Haqayeq category races will continue over three days, totaling 92 races, ahead of the next age groups as per the official schedule, which includes Laqaya, Jadh'a, Thanaya, Hail and Zumool categories, as well as the camel jockeys’ race.
Organizers noted that the Crown Prince’s support and direct involvement have transformed camel racing from a traditional pastime into a comprehensive sporting and economic industry aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, making the Kingdom a global hub for camel races and festivals, and boosting economic and tourism activity in host regions.