Camel trek across UAE desert completed

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, met with participants of the 10th desert camel trek. The riders covered a distance of 550 kilometres in 12 days.

As it is specified, this year’s trek was the largest ever – 37 riders from 16 countries took part in it. They set out from Arada in Abu Dhabi and reached the Global Village multicultural park in Dubai. The route included landmarks such as Tal Merab and Qasr Al Sarab Nature Reserve.

In preparation for the trek, all participants trained three times a day for two months. The programme included learning camel driving skills, caravan rules and desert survival.

The trek allowed participants to become more familiar with Bedouin traditions. The event is held annually and is open to anyone aged 18 and over. Participants will have to learn survival skills that guided desert dwellers in the past.

As previously reported, the Al Dhafra Festival in Abu Dhabi will host the grand finale of the 17th Camel Beauty Contest – the event will take place from 20 January to 8 February 2024. Prizes will be distributed amongst camels of Asahel, Mahahim and Asahel hybrids in six age groups.

The festival aims to emphasise the role of camels in the culture and heritage of the Gulf countries, and it is not for nothing that the event attracts hundreds of breeders from across the region each year. The 17th edition of the Al Dhafra Festival was the largest ever, with 361 rounds, 35 rounds more than last year’s edition.

The festival aims to promote Bedouin and UAE cultural heritage, preserve purebred camel breeds and encourage trade in these graceful animals. It features traditional handicrafts, falconry competitions, camel milking, Arabian horse racing and an Arabian saluki beauty pageant.

Source: The National

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