The AlUla Camel Cup, the pinnacle of camel racing, saw a family of brothers claim final day glory at AlUla Camel Racing Venue – with one camel winning the SAR7.5 million ‘Heil’ race and another the SAR7.5 million ‘Zmoul’ race.
Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the four-day AlUla Camel Cup has been organised by RCU as part of the AlUla Moments calendar in collaboration with the Saudi Camel Racing Federation (SCRF).
On the final day of competition, female camels aged six years and above competed in the one-round, 8km ‘Heil’ race, while male camels aged six years and above competed in the one-round, 8km ‘Zmoul’ race.
In the ‘Zmoul’ race, Mubher, the camel owned by Hamad Rashid Hamad Ghadeer Alkatbi, from the UAE, came in first to claim victory. In the ‘Heil’ race, his brother Saeed Rashid Hamad Ghadeer Alkatbi triumphed thanks to the exploits of camel Fabrakah.
Mohammed Rashid Hamad Ghadeer Alkatbi, the elder brother of Hamad and Saeed, and part of the family’s camel racing team, spoke on behalf of the family. He said: “AlUla Camel Cup has the highest prize pots per run of camel racing, but our real win is being amongst our brothers and being here with our brothers from the Kingdom in this beautiful land. Putting all that together is priceless.
“We made sure to take part in this amazing event because it is special – it is special because the camels participating have won other notable camel races. All of them have a good track record.
“I dedicate this win to the Kingdom, its leadership, amazing people, and the reception, hospitality, and generosity from the organisers of the AlUla Camel Cup. They have made us feel at home – and we are at home because of the strong ties between us.”
As well as the richly deserved prize pot for the family, each winner was presented with a priceless, specially designed trophy crafted from hallmark sterling silver and 24 carat gold plate.
Eng. Amr AlMadani, CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), said: “The concluding day’s action saw a befitting finale to the inaugural AlUla Camel Cup, which has been a traditional yet innovative part of AlUla’s growth story.
“The AlUla Camel Cup has paid spectacular homage to the traditional sport of camel racing, which has been a feature on Saudi Arabian soil since the 7th Century. It is a beloved pastime – a national sporting treasure – that has become etched in the culture and heritage of the Kingdom.
“AlUla, a place of extraordinary human and natural heritage, where camels feature on rock art from ancient times, has been an apt host for the pinnacle of camel racing. Set against the stunning backdrop of AlUla’s mountain range, the AlUla Camel Cup has elevated AlUla to new horizons, adding to an already incredible roster of sporting events held here this year.”
Befitting a tournament with a unique fusion of modern and ancient, the main trophies presented on Friday were meticulously created to incorporate camels and their historical importance to AlUla by the skilled craftsmen at Thomas Lyte. The London-based, Royal Warrant holders are luxury silversmiths who design and manufacture elite sporting presentation prizes including the Emirates FA Cup, Guinness Six Nations Trophy and the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup.
Attendees on the final day of racing included Oscar winning actor Will Smith and Grammy Award winning music producer Swizz Beatz. The two friends watched Friday’s racing at the AlUla Camel Cup in the company of Mohammed Al Turki, CEO, Red Sea International Film Festival, and Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer, RCU.
As well as elite racing, the AlUla Camel Racing Venue also featured a Heritage Village with traditional arts and crafts, fashion, retail, dining, entertainment and more.
Saudi superstar singer Rabeh Saqer, known for songs ‘Ya Nasiem Al Lail’, ‘Maghroura’ and ‘Montaha Alreqa’, plus many more, performed at the closing ceremony of the AlUla Camel Cup on Friday night in front of an adoring crowd.
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