Camel Racing in Dubai - Exploring Cultural Roots

Credit: Flickr / Lars Plougmann / CC BY-SA 2.0

Camel racing is an ancient sport which is encouraged by the country's ruling sheikhs. It was traditionally used to mark wedding celebrations and other important occasions. But after the oil boom in the early 1960s and the influx of foreign investment, the sheikhs worried whether camel racing would fade out of UAEs national heritage. To keep the ancient sporting traditions alive, camel racing became a lucrative way to attract people by awarding handsome cash prizes to the winner. Over time, the sport bore a prominent position among the traditional aspects of the region.