The morning competitions of the Jadha' (general) category at the Crown Prince Camel Festival 2026 concluded on Wednesday with a record participation of 651 camels competing across 15 heats over a 5-kilometer distance, a turnout that underscores the event's growing regional pull.
Saudi-bred camels dominated the results by clinching first place in 7 of the 15 heats, followed by Emirati camels with 5 victories, Qatari camels with 2, and Kuwaiti camels with a single win, reflecting the fierce cross-border rivalry that has come to define the festival's competitive spirit.
The standout performance of the day came from 'Sharareh', owned by Saeed Manana Ghadeer Ijtabi, which not only won the ninth heat but also recorded the best overall time of 7:42.063 minutes at an average speed of 38.956 km/h, while the general average time across all participating camels stood at 8:17.469 minutes.
In the Mazayen (beauty) competitions for individual MuFarid (Bakar and Qa'adan) categories of Asayel and Majahim breeds, Saudi ownership shone brightly as 'Balsha Salem' claimed first place in the Bakar Asayel heat, with 'Sasko Nawader Al-Hijan' and 'Al-Dhabi' taking second and third respectively, while in the Qa'adan Majahim heat, 'Al-Nawi' secured the title ahead of two other Saudi-owned entries.
The Qatari presence was equally notable in the Bakar Majahim heat, where 'Hawashat Al-Qa'ouda' took the top spot, followed by 'Al-Sarima' in second and 'Hukm' in third, rounding out a morning that saw 15 different winners emerge from the 651 starters, a mere 2.3% success rate that highlights the intensity of competition at this premier camel racing event.