The city of Sharm El Sheikh hosted the opening of the Camel and Heritage Festival, according to Youm7. The festival began with two camel racing heats at the International Camel Racing Field, which has become a landmark since its establishment in 2020 at a cost of 125 million Egyptian pounds.
This year's festival witnessed the participation of delegations from six Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Additionally, seventeen Egyptian governorates participated in the festival, reported Akhbarak.
The festival coincided with the anniversary of the opening of the International Camel Racecourse in Sharm El Sheikh, which was inaugurated by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in January 2020. The racetrack covers an area of 2 million square meters and includes a platform to receive presidents and kings, making it one of the largest camel racing arenas in Egypt and the Arab world.
The event is held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly and is one of the sports and heritage events in Sharm El Sheikh. Major General Dr. Khaled Mubarak extended an open invitation to residents and tourists to attend the festival.
"These events contribute to enhancing cultural and heritage identity while supporting the local economy by providing direct and indirect job opportunities for the residents of the governorate," Major General Khaled Mubarak stated, as reported by Youm7.
"Camel racing is not just a sport; it is part of Arab history that embodies the heritage of the ancestors," said Eid Hamdan Al-Mazeni, the President of the Egyptian Camel Federation, according to Youm7.
Visitors to the festival had the opportunity to explore the Heritage Village, including a market displaying handmade products and traditional foods that reflect the life of desert inhabitants. The Serabit El-Khadim exhibition presented a collection of Bedouin heritage tools. Youssef Barakat, the organizer of the exhibition, explained that it serves as a living window into the life of Bedouins in the desert, reflecting their cultural heritage, reported Youm7.
"We displayed turquoise stones in their bright colors extracted from the heart of the Sinai Mountains, especially the Serabit El-Khadim area, along with salt stones, grain grinding tools, embroidered handicrafts, and water and milk storage tools," Barakat explained.
The races featured remote-controlled devices used to control the camels during the race. Heritage heats were also held, relying on traditional human riders.
Salama Abu Al-Nada, head of the Competitions Committee at the Egyptian Camel Racing Federation, announced the provision of prizes for the top winners in the Camel Racing Festival, including two cars provided by Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Arjani, the head of the Arab Tribes Union, in addition to cash prizes.
The Al-Qararsha tribe received the delegations in an official reception ceremony at a hospitality tent next to the camel racing field, where a reception was witnessed for the participating Arab delegations, according to Youm7.
The Camel Racing Track has been developed to include a modern platform, a Bedouin Heritage Village, a mosque that accommodates 2,000 people, and a veterinary unit dedicated to camels.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq