Annual Festival

التالى السابق

Saudi\' Camel Festival

REPORTS - 5 month ago

The King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is an annual event held in Saudi Arabia, celebrating the nation's rich cultural heritage and the significance of camels in its history. The festival takes place in the southern village of Al-Sayahid, located between Rumah and Al-Rumahiyah, approximately 120 km northeast of Riyadh. Spanning over 30 days, the event attracts more than 1,800 participants annually and features a variety of competitions and cultural activities. 

The festival includes over 320 competitive rounds, such as Mazayen (beauty contests), Hajij, Tabaa, and camel races. Various camel breeds are showcased, including Majahim, Wadah, Shaqah, Hamr, Safar, Shaal, Asayel, Sawahel, and hybrid camels. Dedicated categories are organized for both individual and group competitions, drawing extensive participation from camel owners across the Gulf region, the Arab world, and beyond. Notably, the festival features the Princess Nourah’s Round, exclusively for women, highlighting their contributions to camel heritage. 

In addition to the competitions, the festival offers a diverse range of cultural activities related to camels and heritage, such as poetry, traditional songs (Shailah), painting, photography, and other art forms. There is also a significant commercial aspect, with numerous markets specializing in products related to the camel environment and its necessities, including food and beauty products specifically for camels. 

The King Abdulaziz Camel Festival has seen an increase in award value in its recent editions, reaching SAR250 million in its sixth edition in 2021. The festival's organizer allocated SAR300 million for the awards in its seventh edition in 2022, making it the highest award value in the world for this specific field. 

The festival aims to elevate camels as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and as a source of both local and global pride and interest. It serves as a platform to preserve and promote the cultural significance of camels in Saudi, Arab, and Islamic culture. 

The King Abdulaziz Camel Festival continues to be a significant event that attracts participants and visitors from around the world, offering a unique insight into Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage and the enduring importance of camels in its history.