Taif Camel Festival Trophy Races Offer SAR 6.1M

The historic Taif Camel Racing Field is set to host the first trophy races of the eighth Crown Prince Camel Festival 2026 on Saturday, held alongside the conclusion of the Haqayiq category. The concluding evening session alone carries a prize pool exceeding SAR 6,100,000.

The evening program features six trophy (cup) races, with prizes awarded to the top five finishers in each. In the female camel category, the winner of the general female race takes home SAR 700,000, while the winners of the open female race and the Saudi-bred general female race each receive SAR 500,000.

In the male camel category, the winner of the general male race earns SAR 500,000, with the open male race and the Saudi-bred general male race each rewarding their winners with SAR 400,000. For general morning and evening heats outside the cup races, the organizing committee has set a prize of SAR 90,000 distributed among the top 10 finishers.

A wider festival of heritage and competition

The eighth edition runs at Taif's historic track from 3 to 13 September 2026, spanning 11 days and more than 240 races across multiple categories. Total prize money for the festival exceeds SAR 50 million, drawing camel owners from within Saudi Arabia and abroad.

The Haqayiq category comprises 92 heats over three days, each covering 2 km, with total category prizes reported at around SAR 13.3 million. Other age categories carry separate pools, including Laqaya at SAR 10.85 million over three days and Thaniya evening cup races totaling over SAR 4 million.

The festival reflects the growing prominence of camel racing as both a cultural tradition and a major sporting event, offering residents and visitors a chance to witness a celebrated part of the Kingdom's heritage.

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