The seventh edition of the Crown Prince Camel Festival launched in Taif, Saudi Arabia, on September 2, 2025, under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This year’s edition set a new benchmark for participation, with over 100,000 camels entered, more than the total of all previous six editions combined. (Saudi Arabian News Express)
Organised by Saudi Camel Sports, the festival features 249 race rounds across multiple categories, including Haqqa, Laqaya, Jatha’a, Thanaya, Heil, Zamoul, with competitions held in both morning and evening sessions. Prize money exceeds SAR 50 million, underlining the high stakes and prestige of the event. (UrduPoint)
On the opening day (September 3, 2025), the Haqqa category saw 31 rounds with 1,495 camels competing; Saudi Arabia’s camels took the lion’s share of wins (25 of 31), followed by participants from Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait. A standout performance came from the camel named “Watan,” owned by Khalil Salem Al-Bateen, which recorded the best time of the day in Haqqa at approximately 3:02.066 minutes. (Saudi Arabian News Express)
The festival’s scale isn’t just in numbers: the final four rounds, which cover a total of 24 kilometres, are scheduled for the conclusion, with elite camels competing. The final rounds alone carry prize money of SAR 10.9 million. Over the course of the event, camels cover a cumulative distance of 953 kilometres, according to organisers. (UrduPoint)
On the economic side, the market value of camels in the final rounds has been estimated at nearly SAR 250 million, with individual camels valued between SAR 2 million and SAR 10 million, particularly those with prior championship titles and elite breeding. The festival also draws participants not only from across Saudi Arabia but from other Gulf states and across the Arab world. (Saudi Arabia Breaking News)
Spectators and owners alike have emphasised the sense of heritage, competition, and culture, the Crown Prince Camel Festival continues to grow, using both tradition and scale to cement its place amongst the world’s largest camel racing spectacles. The event is running until about September 12, 2025, when the final rounds will crown winners across categories. (Arab News)
Sources & Accreditation
- Saudi Arabian News Express – Crown Prince Camel Festival 2025 Breaks World Record with over 100,000 Camels (4 Sept 2025) Saudi Arabia News Express
- UrduPoint – Taif to Host Final Rounds of Crown Prince Camel Festival with Record Prizes (11 Sept 2025) UrduPoint
- Saudi Arabian News Express – Saudi Camels Take Top Places at Opening of Crown Prince Camel Festival in Taif (3 Sept 2025) Saudi Arabia News Express
- Saudi Arabia Breaking News – Camel Market Value Nears SAR250 Million in Final Rounds (12 Sept 2025) SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS
- Arab News – Taif camel racing festival attracts 100,000 animals (6 Sept 2025) Arab News
