Saudi camel owners opened their participation in the third edition of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Camel Festival 2026 with an exceptional performance, achieving clear dominance on the first day. Saudi camels secured 65% of the first-place titles in the opening races for the "Haqayiq" category, the premier category for participation in this major heritage sporting event.
The competitions kicked off on Friday under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at the historic Janadriyah Camel Racing Track in Riyadh. The 10-day festival brings together elite camel owners and trainers from the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to compete for substantial cash prizes exceeding 75 million riyals, making it one of the largest camel racing festivals in the region.
Results and record details
The first day featured 40 races over a distance of 4 kilometers, divided into 30 general races and 10 open races. Saudi camels dominated, winning 26 races, while the remaining results were distributed among the other Gulf countries. Emirati camels won 5 races, Kuwaiti and Qatari camels each won 3 races, Bahraini camels won 2 races, and Omani camels won 1 race.
In the context of record-breaking numbers, the camel “Shalfa” owned by Saudi Abdulhadi Al-Jarbu’i stole the spotlight by recording the best time on the first day, as it covered the race distance in a time of 5:58.847 minutes during the first main round, reflecting the strength of the preparations and the high technical level of the participants.
The importance of the festival and its cultural dimension
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Camel Festival holds special significance beyond being merely a sporting competition; it represents a cultural and heritage event reflecting the deep connection between the people of the Arabian Peninsula and camels. The organization of this event stems from the wise leadership's commitment to preserving authentic folk heritage and strengthening national identity, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places great importance on the camel sector and its development into a significant economic and tourism contributor.
The Janadriyah field, which hosts these competitions, is a historically significant symbol of camel racing, as it has witnessed over the decades the development of this sport and its transition from traditional races to a professional sports system managed according to the highest international standards, while preserving the spirit of authenticity.
Awards and accompanying events
The organizing committee allocated valuable prizes for the winners, with the total prize money for the "Haqayiq" category on the first day reaching 16.18 million riyals. The festival's activities are not limited to traditional races; they also include five approved categories, in addition to a camel race for human riders (men and women), and "Mazayin" competitions showcasing the beauty of camels, thus adding a diverse range of attractions for various segments of the audience.
The first category competitions are scheduled to conclude tomorrow, Saturday, with 24 races, culminating in the last four races dedicated to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Festival Cups, for which financial prizes amounting to 5.5 million riyals have been allocated, amid great anticipation for what these elite encounters will produce.
