Camel beauty contest starts in the UAE

The first stage of the camel beauty pageant has started in Sweihan, a suburb of Abu Dhabi, with tens of thousands of ‘desert ships’ from across the Arabian Peninsula taking part. This stage of the contest focuses on two breeds, Asael and Majahim, and will run until 28 October.

Two further stages of the competition will take place in Abu Dhabi in November and December, before the final Al Dhafra Heritage Festival in the Liwa Desert will host selected contestants between 20 January and 8 February 2024. All participating camel breeds will complete 361 rounds, an increase of 35 rounds from a year earlier.

The festival aims to promote Bedouin and UAE cultural heritage and encourage participation in local traditions. It features traditional handicrafts, falconry competitions, Persian greyhound dog racing, Arabian horse racing and a traditional bazaar, as well as many other attractions and competitions.

When choosing the most beautiful camel, the jury pays attention to their long and slender necks, graceful posture, broad cheeks and large hooves. Before the competition, all camels undergo a medical examination, including X-rays.

This helps to disqualify fraudsters who use prohibited Botox injections to improve the animals’ appearance. There are 10 categories in the contest (red and black camels are the most widely represented), with winners receiving prizes ranging from US$ 1300 to 13 600.

Source: Arabian Business

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