Arab Rounds Join 2026 Crown Prince Camel Festival

Saudi Camel Sports has announced that Arab rounds for non-Gulf Arab member federations will be held as part of the eighth Crown Prince Camel Festival 2026, taking place at Taif Camel Square (the historic Taif Camel Racecourse) from 3 to 13 September 2026.

The Arab rounds are organized under the Arab Camel Racing Federation, which has issued official invitations to non-Gulf Arab member federations to take part. The rounds will feature races with both human and robotic riders across multiple categories and distances, in line with the standard camel racing classifications used in the festival program, including Haqqa, Laqaya, Jatha'a, Thanaya, Heil and Zamoul.

Overall, the 2026 festival will feature approximately 248 races and a total prize pool exceeding SAR 50 million (about USD 13.3 million), spread across morning and evening racing sessions over 11 days.

A New Cup for Saudi Participants

The 2026 edition will also introduce the Crown Prince Camel Festival Cup, exclusive to Saudi participants. The SAR 500,000 prize goes to the owner who accumulates the highest number of points across the festival's races during the 2026-2027 season, contested at the Taif Camel Racing Track starting 3 September 2026.

The festival is organized by Saudi Camel Sports, with participation and coordination for Arab federations handled through sports federation channels. For the public, entry to the Crown Prince Camel Festival at Taif Camel Square is typically free of charge, with income derived from sponsorships and prize allocations rather than ticketing. Specific 2026 ticketing or parking details have not been officially published.

The event underlines Taif's growing role as a hub for camel racing and heritage sport, offering residents and visitors across the Kingdom a chance to experience a deeply rooted tradition alongside modern competition.

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