AlUla Hosts First Arab Camel Cup and World Endurance Championship, Attracting Camel Sports Enthusiasts from Across Region

AlUla’s burgeoning renown as a hub for diverse and captivating heritage sports from the region and beyond will be further solidified with the hosting of two of the sector’s freshest and most prominent competitions – the Arab Cup for Camel Racing and the World Championship for International Camel Endurance.

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), in close collaboration with key partners such as the Arab Camel Racing Federation and the International Camel Racing Federation, has orchestrated these novel contests, slated to unfold consecutively over two electrifying days, showcasing the finest thoroughbred camels from the region.

Taking place on May 3rd at the Mugheira Heritage Sports Village, the inaugural Arab Camel Cup will witness elite riders from 16 Arab nations vying in 13 fiercely contested rounds of racing for a prize pool surpassing SAR 3 million.

On the subsequent day, May 4th, an international assembly of camels and riders will undergo rigorous trials in the maiden World Championship for International Camel Endurance. With SAR 2 million up for grabs, this two-phase challenge will span 16km, with male and female riders competing in separate categories.

The victors will claim SAR 500,000, while the remainder of the prize money will be distributed among the runners-up. Participants in the World Endurance Championship in AlUla must meet certain criteria, including being at least 18 years old and owning specific types of camels such as Hail, Thanaya Bakkar, Zamoul, and Thanaya Qadan.

Expanding upon AlUla’s established reputation as the foremost destination for heritage sports, encompassing a varied array of camel races, horseback riding, endurance challenges, and more, these two new competitions are poised to draw an international audience of spectators and enthusiasts from across the Kingdom and the broader AlUla community.

Both the Arab Camel Cup and the World Endurance Championship are aligned with the Ministry of Culture’s ‘Year of the Camel’ initiative, commemorating the esteemed status of camels in Saudi culture and society. Furthermore, these events align with RCU’s overarching strategy to champion the rich cultural legacy of camel and heritage sports, while simultaneously fostering socio-economic growth within AlUla and northwest Arabia.

RCU’s aspirations for heritage sports are intricately intertwined with its tourism and cultural preservation endeavors, positioning them at the nucleus of community development and in alignment with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan.

Ziad Alsuhaibani, Chief Sports Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “Hosting the new Arab Camel Cup and the first-ever World Endurance Championship is yet another exciting milestone in the ongoing evolution and development of heritage sports in northwest Arabia. 

“As the sector continues to go from strength to strength, RCU is excited to welcome the very best teams, owners, and riders to participate in thrilling new competitions that showcase much-loved categories of traditional sports as well as the wonderful, purpose-built facilities that have been created in AlUla to accommodate participants and spectators alike. 

“The heritage sports sector continues to grow at a rapid pace, bringing with it new opportunities for inclusive growth, dynamic investment, and of course new levels of sporting excellence. The Arab Camel Cup and the World Endurance Championship are new and welcome editions to AlUla’s growing calendar of year-round cultural and sporting events.”

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