Saudi riders sweep camel racing cups at Crown Prince Festival in Taif

Saudi camel riders delivered a remarkable performance in the human jockey race at the 2026 Crown Prince Camel Festival, winning all four cups in the event held at Taif’s historic camel racing track.

Kholoud Al-Shammari secured the women’s first race cup, guiding her camel "Al-Bashar" over two kilometers in 3:13.46 minutes. The victory adds to her impressive record, which includes gold at the inaugural Asian Camel Racing Championship in Abu Dhabi and the World Endurance Championship title in AlUla.

In the women’s second race, Jowzaa Al-Rashidi claimed her first Crown Prince Festival cup, riding "Mubashira" to victory in 3:21.65 minutes. She has previously competed in several events, including the King’s Camel Festival.

Men’s achievements in the race

In the men’s five-kilometer races, Bandar Al-Huwaiti won the first cup with "Baraqa" in 8:38.38 minutes, while Rami Al-Balawi clinched the second with "Saib" in 8:45.06 minutes.

This marks the first time all four riders have won cups at the Crown Prince Festival, reflecting the growth of human jockey camel racing. The event saw increasing participation from both men and women, as the Saudi Camel Federation works to expand the sport’s base and preserve its heritage.