The Crown Prince’s Camel Festival: A Record-Breaking Event
The number of camels participating in the Crown Prince’s Camel Festival is expected to reach an impressive 60,000 in its fifth edition in 2023. Since its launch in 2018, this festival has made history by entering the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest camel festival for four consecutive years. Participants in the festival competed for runs and prizes, making it a thrilling and highly anticipated event.
A Steady Increase in Participation
With each passing edition, the Crown Prince’s Camel Festival has witnessed a significant increase in the number of participants. Each version has exceeded the number of horses from the previous one, solidifying its status as the premier camel festival. In the last edition, the festival broke the barrier of 50,000 participants, with a total of 54,143 horses taking part. The numbers are as follows: 11,178 horses in 2018, 13,377 horses in 2019, 14,745 horses in 2021, and 14,843 horses in 2022.
A Guinness World Record Achievement
On September 21, 2018, the Saudi Arabian Camel Federation proudly received the certificate of the festival being listed in the global encyclopedia as the largest camel festival in the world. The first edition alone recorded an astonishing 11,178 camels participating in camel racing, setting a new record and making a mark in history.
A New Run Record
The upcoming fifth edition of the festival is set to establish a new run record. Over the course of five editions, the festival will have accumulated a total of 3,000 runs. The previous four editions recorded 2,348 runs, with 787 runs in the first edition, 439 runs in the second edition, 531 runs in the fourth edition, and a projected 589 runs in the fifth edition.
Lucrative Prizes and Royal Recognition
The prizes presented by the festival’s organizing committee are among the largest in Saudi sports, valued at 56.255 million riyals. This amount is three million riyals higher than the prizes offered in the first and second editions. The crown prince’s award, which includes a one-million-rial sword, is a testament to the prestige and significance of this event.
Supporting the Camel Sector
The camel sector receives significant support and attention from His Highness the Crown Prince. His vision aims to develop this sector in line with ambitious goals that satisfy the desires of camel owners and sports enthusiasts across the Kingdom and the Arab world. With such support, the Crown Prince’s Camel Festival continues to grow and thrive, solidifying its reputation as a world-class event.
