The Camel Racing Organizing Committee

Preface

Due to the great support and patronage given by HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, the Camel Racing Organizing Committee (CROC) of Qatar, headed by HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Faisal Al Thani, has been diligently performing its duties and responsibilities in developing this heritage and traditional sport, deeply rooting it in the hearts of its lovers generation after generation.

Since the early eighties of the past century, CROC has continued year after year its creativity and innovation to maintain this popular sport by organizing camel races, both local and grand, and granting valuable monetary and in-kind awards to the winners in all festivals and races held at Al Shahaniyah racetrack. Accordingly, CROC of Qatar is considered one of the most important camel racing organizing committees in the GCC region.

A Record of Achievements

Over the last four decades, CROC has organized many camel racing competitions under the names of honorable personalities. The most important of these races is the annual Sword Festival presented by HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir Father, as well as the annual Sword Festival presented by HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. The opening festival every season is the Founder’s (HE Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani) annual festival.

Under the honorable patronage of HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, CROC launched the first robot camel jockey in 2005, marking a tremendous progress that resulted in a significant turning point in the world of this heritage sport.

Camel racing in Qatar was revolutionized by the development of Al Shahaniyah racetrack to be at the forefront of all racing tracks in the GCC region and the world. It is the biggest racetrack, equipped with the latest technology and accessible road networks that allow sport lovers and followers to watch the races while remaining in their cars. Also, as an important step in the history of this authentic and heritage sport, CROC managed to provide the racetrack with lighting, allowing races to be organized at night.

As part of its efforts to keep up with the latest technological advances, CROC entered into an agreement with iHorizons Company to implement a unique project for the first time in the region, aiming to use information technology to develop, manage, organize, and maintain this exciting sport in a way that enhances Qatar’s leadership in camel racing regionally and globally. In this project, CROC launched an electronic portal as well as a set of smart mobile applications to achieve the objectives and requirements of the committee and participants by providing easy-to-use applications to simplify the registration process of their camels, maintain camel pedigrees, and manage all related information. It also helps improve policies and procedures related to camel owners on one hand and ensures maximum accuracy in the registration process on the other.

It is worth mentioning that Mr. Hamad Bin Jarhab Al Marri, one of the Qatari youth cadres associated with this sport and CROC, is the initiator and developer of this new system, as well as the project manager.

CROC provided a comprehensive training program on using the new system for all participants and also offers continuous technical support to help them overcome any difficulties they may face.

The Camel Racing in Qatar

Along with the urban and civilizational development that Qatar is witnessing in every domain, the Qatari and GCC people have always, generation after generation, paid great attention to camels, recognizing their importance as a link to the past when camels were the only means of transport suited to the local environment. Camel racing is also considered by Qataris and GCC people as a popular and esteemed heritage sport.

H.H. the Emir and H.H. the Father Emir’s Support

As a good example to the people of Qatar and the world, and to express recognition and pride in the popular heritage of camel racing, HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir Father, keenly participates every year in Qatar National Sport Day by riding camels.

Additionally, the sport receives generous and unlimited support from HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, by honoring and attending major camel races, providing all resources needed to develop the sport, and granting monetary and in-kind awards that are the most valuable in the Gulf region. Such support from HH the Emir and HH the Emir Father has been a key factor in the development of this sport, resulting from the efforts of the Camel Racing Organizing Committee headed by HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Faisal Al Thani, which has elevated Qatari camel racing competitions to a high status within the GCC.

Similarly, Al Shahaniyah racetrack, with all the vast resources provided, including the latest digital and electronic technologies made available for the first time in the sport’s history to camel owners, has become one of the leading racetracks in the GCC.

History of Camel Racing in Qatar

Camel racing competitions started in Qatar in 1973 with the first race at Al Faraa area, 9 km west of Al Shahaniyah, with only 300 participating camels.

The first-ever camel racetrack built in Qatar was the Al Rayan racetrack in 1974.

Al Labrqah racetrack was opened in 1977 as the longest camel racetrack in Qatar at that time (16 km long). The number of participating camels in each round ranged between 400 and 500. Races continued to be held at this racetrack until late 1989.

HH the Emir Father ordered the establishment of the current camel racetrack at Al Shahaniyah where races started in 1990 for 6, 8, and 10 km distances. The facility includes a main terrace, a veterinary clinic, modern camel stalls, a large mosque, and other amenities.

In 1987, two cars, presented by HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Faisal Al Thani, were allocated as the first awards of this kind in camel racing. The first car was won by Mr. Hamad Bin Salem Bin Zahra Al Marri.

The first award presented by HH the Emir Father was in 1989. The first camel to win it was “Al Thahabia,” owned by Mr. Rashid Bin Maqareh Al Marri.

Major annual camel racing competitions honored by HH the Emir’s attendance include the Grand Annual Festival, in which camels from Qatar and GCC countries compete to win the Emir’s Sword as well as the best monetary and in-kind awards in the region.

Recently, the Camel Racing Organizing Committee has scheduled an annual festival under the name of the “Founder,” Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, held every December, followed by the Grand Annual Festival competing for the Sword presented by HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir Father.