Thirteen riders from eight different countries will compete at the Taif Camel Field.
Riyadh: Female camel riders and trainers from various countries are preparing for a historic moment as they participate in Saudi Arabia’s first-ever all-women camel race, scheduled for Monday.
This groundbreaking event, commencing at 5 p.m. at the Taif Camel Field, is part of the annual Crown Prince Camel Festival. The race covers a distance of 2 kilometers, featuring 13 jockeys hailing from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Iran, Germany, France, and the United States.
Coralie, a French rider who opted to provide only her first name, expressed enthusiasm for the potential of women-only camel races.
“We aimed to internationalize it… and we aspire to enhance the visibility of this sport to encourage more women to participate,” she stated. “I believe it’s a significant opportunity for this sport to gain popularity, especially among women. We consider ourselves fortunate to have this chance to participate.”
While camel racing has traditionally been a male-dominated pursuit, the participants in this all-female race hope that it will inspire women and girls to take an interest in the sport themselves.
Maryam Al-Jaber, a new rider from Qatar, shared her journey: “Initially, I aspired to enter this field, but there were no races for women, and I was unaware of any. However, later on, I learned about races for women, such as the inaugural race in Taif. This motivated me to try this experience and convey the idea to women here in Qatar. Women need to see someone give it a try because if no one takes part and tries it, it will never materialize.”
Camel racing is a traditional sport in the Arab world and holds cultural significance in Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince Camel Festival aims to preserve, protect, and introduce this tradition to a global audience.
Launched in 2018 with the support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the festival achieved recognition from the Guinness World Records in the same year as the largest camel sporting event.
This year’s festival will feature a total of 589 races, with local and international owners vying for a combined prize pool of $14.9 million.