Doha: The young camel races began Saturday as part of the annual festival of the Purebred Arabian Camel Racing on the Sword of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. The 11-day racing is organized by the Camel Racing Organizing Committee at the race venues in Al-Shahaniya and Lobsair as part of the 2025-2026 season, running until Feb.12, with broad participation from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
According to Qatar News Agency, the contests on the sixth day of the festival were intense, showcasing a total of 28 races 'general races', with 16 races in the morning session-8 for female camels and 8 for males-and 12 races in the afternoon session-7 for females and 5 for males. In the morning session, the first main races for the open female and male categories were held, producing strong competition and close finishes.
The evening session featured the first main races for the production categories, with winners achieving competitive times in both female and male divisions. The festival continues to attract large participation and intense competition across all categories. On Sunday, the seventh day will showcase young races over a 6 km distance in both morning and evening sessions. A total of 28 general races will be held, with 16 in the morning and 12 in the evening.
The festival remains a major event within the 2025-2026 season, drawing widespread attention from GCC participants.