AL BASHAYER: The 8th edition of the annual Al Bashayer Camel Racing Festival concluded at Al Bashayer racecourse in the Wilayat of Adam, under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan. His Highness emphasized the festival’s continuous development and highlighted His Majesty the Sultan’s unwavering support, ensuring its sustainability and innovation for the benefit of citizens. The festival, a significant cultural and sporting event, attracts wide participation from camel owners and breeders across the Sultanate of Oman and the GCC States.
The festival, which spanned six days, featured multiple rounds of competitive camel racing, bringing together elite camels and their trainers. The concluding rounds saw fierce competition among top contenders. In the first round, designated for Al Thanaya camels under establishments, Camel “Hamlolah” owned by Sultan Mohammed Al Wahaibi from the UAE secured first place, while a camel from the UAE Presidential Camel Unit owned by Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Muroshid finished second. The second round, designated for the Al Thanaya category (General), was won by Camel Huzba for Manie Ali Al Shamsi, followed by Camel Aram for Mubarak bin Said Al Mekhaini in second place, and Camel Awayid for Atiq Mattar Al Qubaisi in third.
The third round was designated for the Al Houl (General) category and carried prestigious prizes, including a silver sword and a car. Camel Al Anoud, owned by Ali bin Khalifa Al Ramli, secured first place, followed by Camel Ghazala for Mohammed Al Niyadi in second and Camel Shaheen for Maktoum bin Saad Al Ramly in third. The most anticipated fourth round, the main event of the festival, also designated for the Al Houl category, awarded a gold sword and a car to the winner. Camel Al Faydha, owned by Mohammed Atiq Al Mehairi, emerged victorious, with Camel Muthira for Mohammed Atiq Al Mehairi and Camel Al Haba for Faran Mohammed Al Mahri securing second and third places, respectively.
At the conclusion of the festival, His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said honored establishments that supported the event and presented awards to the winners of the top four rounds. The festival was attended by dignitaries, ministers, undersecretaries, sheikhs, and camel racing enthusiasts from Oman and abroad, reinforcing the event’s cultural significance. Additionally, His Highness expressed his hope that the newly planned equestrian ground would be completed by the end of the year, further strengthening Oman’s role in preserving and promoting traditional sports. The Al Bashayer Camel Racing Festival remains a cornerstone of heritage and equestrian excellence in the region, fostering unity and sporting spirit among participants.
