SARA ALZAABI (LIWA)
Traditional Emirati camel racing was the highlight of the day at the Liwa International Festival on Monday.
The annual desert event is being held in the Al Dhafra region from 13 December 2024 to 4 January 2025.
The festival - organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) in collaboration with the Liwa Sports Club, Al Dhafra Municipality, Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Media Network and Miral - celebrates the region's cultural heritage while offering a mix of modern entertainment and sports events including Monster Jam, Hollywood Circus, as well as a Classic Cars exhibition.
On Monday, the stars of the show were the camels and their jockeys, who kicked up dust at the Heritage Racing Arena.
The competition included the Hagayeg (female) and Lagaya (male) categories, with each race consisting of 8 rounds and covering a distance of 3 kilometres.
Hamad Alderei, the commentator at Liwa Sports Club, told Aletihad: "Today's event features a camel race, one of the many activities accompanying the festival. The camel race consists of 16 rounds, and each round is unique. We, as commentators, observe the participants and interact with the audience present.
"Of course, this sport has its dedicated fans, and the club is always focused on hosting events that people love. The audience gets to experience everything they enjoy in one place."
Among the crowd was Abdullah Al Tayyar, a Saudi blogger and traveller from Riyadh, who arrived by car.
Speaking to Aletihad, he said: "I have been attending the festival for several years now. I usually come at the start of the festival because I truly enjoy the event and the activities that accompany it.
"The festival has grown and developed year after year, with each edition improving even more. The efforts made by the government are truly commendable and deserve appreciation. It is these efforts that draw us back every year, as we always find new surprises.
"I stay until the 20th or 21st day of the event without feeling tired or rushed because I'm surrounded by my brothers and the beloved people of the Emirates. Their generosity, kindness and love are overwhelming and I feel truly blessed."
The camel racing fan added: "Camel racing is undoubtedly a beloved traditional sport, and it's inspiring to see how the UAE is actively working to preserve and develop this heritage."
Aletihad spoke to winning rider, Ahmed Al Qubaisi, said the races went smoothly.
"We appreciate the efforts of the committee for presenting it in the best possible way. We faced some challenges at the beginning of the year, but this time there is a noticeable improvement. Today, the ground is in better condition than before, and the future will only get better."
Speaking about the preparation that goes into the event, Al Qubaisi said: "Camel training is challenging, but today we see the results of the hard work. With proper training and necessary treatments, it requires a lot of patience.
"I hope that in the future, the festival will be a main venue, to attract a wider audience from across the UAE and help nurture the next generation of camels."