Winners crowned at Crown Prince Camel Festival finale in Taif

Under the patronage of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Governor of Makkah Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz on Sunday crowned the winners of the eighth Crown Prince Camel Festival during the closing ceremony organized by the Saudi Camel Federation at the historic Taif camel racetrack.

The event was attended by Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, President of the Saudi Camel Federation Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, and several other dignitaries.

The deputy governor presented awards to the winners of the festival's final races, which featured four rounds over a distance of 6 kilometers, with 114 elite camels from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf participating.

The camel "Al-Maidi," owned by Emirati Hamad Al-Amri, won the "Zamoul – General" race, taking home the rifle trophy and a prize of 1 million riyals (SAR). "Nahab," representing the UAE Presidential Camels, claimed the "Zamoul – Open" title, also securing the rifle trophy and a 1 million riyal prize.

In the "Heil" category, "Intibah," owned by Saudi Aqab Mohammed Al-Dhihasi, won the "Heil – General" race, earning the sword trophy and a prize of 1.5 million riyals. "Taraf," representing Qatar's Al-Shahaniya Camels, took the "Heil – Open" title, also receiving the sword trophy and a 1.5 million riyal prize.

The deputy governor also honored Saudi camel owner Abdullah Al-Qahtani, who won the Crown Prince Camel Festival Points Cup, presenting him with the championship trophy and a cash prize of 500,000 riyals.

On this occasion, the Minister of Sports expressed his sincere gratitude to the Crown Prince for his patronage of the festival, emphasizing that such support reflects the attention and backing the sports sector—and camel racing in particular—receives as a cherished heritage that embodies an important aspect of Saudi culture and identity.

He also praised the presence of the Deputy Governor of Makkah at the closing ceremony and his crowning of the winners, commending the high level of competition and organization seen in the festival's eighth edition.