Camel Racing Season Kicks Off in Oman with Thrilling Competitions and Strong Participation

The first camel race of the 2025-2026 season concluded on Sunday, showcasing thrilling performances at two major venues in Oman: the Al Felaij track in the Wilayat of Barka and the Al Bashayer track in the Wilayat of Adam. The highly anticipated event, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) through the Oman Camel Racing Federation (OCRF), attracted a large turnout of passionate spectators from across the Sultanate.At Al Felaij, the crowd was captivated by ‘Al Tayarah’, owned by the Royal Camel Corps (RCC), which secured first place in the opening round. Other standout entrants from RCC included ‘Amjad’ and ‘Nojood’, both of which clinched top spots in the feature races, reinforcing RCC’s prestigious reputation in the sport.Simultaneously, at Al Bashayer, the competition was fierce as camels such as ‘Asrar’, owned by Mohsen bin Ali al Wahibi, ‘Shawahen’, owned by Abdullah bin Saeed al Ghafili, and ‘Al Asimah’, owned by Ali bin Mohammed al Jahafi, claimed dominant victories in the main rounds, earning the admiration of fans and judges alike.The final day of the race featured nearly 500 camels from different regions of Oman, competing across 24 rounds. These included: 12 rounds in the Al Yetha category (camels four years old, racing over 4 km), 6 rounds in the Thanaya category (camels five years old, racing over 5 km), 6 rounds in the Al Houl category (camels aged six and above, racing over 5 km). This extensive participation highlighted the growing popularity and competitive spirit of camel racing within the Sultanate.To further enhance enthusiasm across the racing community, the OCRF announced valuable prizes for the season. The rewards include cash awards for the top 10 finishers in every race, along with cars, khanjars (traditional Omani daggers), swords, and trophies in select categories. These incentives are aimed at encouraging greater involvement from camel owners and trainers throughout the season.The successful launch of the season reflects Oman’s commitment to preserving and advancing its rich heritage through modern, well-organized sporting events that attract both local and international admiration.Team V.DIR-EM-UAE