Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the culminating festival of purebred Arabian camel races, “Al Wathba 2023”, will begin its 44th edition today and its activities will continue. Until next May 4, in the fields of Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi, with a large participation of camel owners, citizens of the countries of the State and Cooperative Council.
The traditional race will kick off the first day of competition with 10 runs for the 15 to 20 age group. The festival includes 323 races, including 105 races.
Horses compete to harvest precious trinkets and gnats, and the Supreme Organizing Committee has allotted 44 trinkets in various categories, including 8 trinkets for the camels of the high-ranking sheikhs and 36 trinkets for the camel races of the sons of the tribes.
The Camel Racing Federation is organizing the event, which has completed 43 years of victories, as an extension of the approach of its founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The event’s High Organizing Committee, headed by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Camel Racing Federation and Advisor to His Highness the Head of State, completed the final arrangements for the event.
On the second and third days, 70 rounds were allocated for the implementation of oaths, on the second day 28 rounds will be held, with valuable prizes starting at 100 thousand dirhams, and on the third day 42 rounds will be held. Compete in the top 4 symbols during the evening, with prize money worth between one and a half million and one million dirhams.
On the fourth day, there are 42 rounds of age competitions for group camel, 8 rounds for open, production, local and hybrid races and broadcast age for sheiks. The camels of the group covered 6 km including 8 emblems in the evening.
The Sheikh’s Highness camel races begin on day six with the challenges of Al Laqaya over a distance of 5 km, broadcast codes for virgins and zadans, and the Hawl and Jamol races for the camels of the sheikh and his team are held on days eight and nine across 44 runs.
Day 10 starts with the team challenges of 28 laps for the colts’ age matches. In the evening 8 mascots compete and on the 11th for the camels’ age matches. The sheikhs will be conducted through 22 rounds, including evening symbols for maidens and zadans.
Day 12 turns the spotlight on the group’s year-round and evening zoological competitions, and with a prize money of 5 million dirhams, the organizing committee has earmarked 8 mascots for the category to compete for this year’s main swords. Open Round Winner of the Year.
On May 4th the festival concludes with 8 rounds of the main round of Kanmani and Thuvaram, to the strongest and biggest of all, the camel of the Shekhars.
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan extended his greetings to the wise leadership of the State, led by the Head of State, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Eid Al-Fitr Day. I wish them success in “The End Al Wathba”.
This year comes in a new guise and in a different manner, during which the competition for the sword of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan takes place.
He said: We are grateful to the wise leadership who has given great support to camel sport and traditional sports in general and the “Finals of Al Wathba” which has become a milestone in camel racing in the region. Various countries of the Cooperative Council to represent the most important icon of racing and festivals.
He added: “We are keen that the “Finals of Al-Watbah” be renewed and improved, not just an ordinary event, but a festival and a forum for the people of the country and region, preserving this traditional sport and the late founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Ensures that prudent leadership follows the approach, “God bless his soul.” He appreciated the high level of expertise of the festival committees in preserving the popular tradition. And presenting it to the world in the best possible way.
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