Saudi Arabia offers a truly unique tourist experience: attending a festival where the most beautiful and fastest camels are crowned champions.
A Symbol of Saudi Arabia
The camel is considered a national symbol of Saudi Arabia and has played a vital role in the country’s traditional culture for centuries. These animals have been used for food, transport, and even as war companions throughout history.
Where is the Festival Held?
The festival takes place in the ad-Dhana desert, located in central Saudi Arabia. This vast corridor stretches 1,000 km long and 80 km wide, connecting an-Nafud to Rub al-Khali and curving around the Twaik Mountains.
What is the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival?
Also known as “Miss Camel”, the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival lasts for an entire month. Around 30,000 camels participate in the event, competing for a total prize pool of $30 million, divided into six categories.
Alongside the beauty contest, camel races are also held, with over $2.5 million awarded to the winner of each of the five racing categories.
This annual gathering has become one of Saudi Arabia’s most popular events, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the region.
Why is the Contest Held?
The festival honors one of the most iconic means of transport in the Arabian Peninsula and celebrates the camel’s cultural significance.
It is also said that King Abdulaziz played a key role in unifying the country with the help of camels.
The event has been held annually since 2000.
Judging Criteria
Camels are evaluated in groups of 30 by a panel of judges, who consider the following features:
- Height
- Neck length
- Head size
- Muzzle shape
- Chin visibility (front and profile view)
- Hump shape
- Lips
- Ears
Controversy in the Camel Beauty Contest
With such large prizes at stake, some participants try to cheat by using unethical methods such as:
- Injecting botox into the lips
- Surgically reducing ear size
- Administering hormones to increase muscle mass
Anyone caught cheating faces a fine and a five-year ban from competing.
The 2018 Scandal
In 2018, 12 camels were disqualified after judges discovered that owners had applied illegal substances to the animals’ lips, noses, and even jaws.
Thanks to modern detection equipment, event officials can easily spot these manipulations.
Some breeders who cannot afford expensive camels attempt to artificially enhance the appearance of less attractive animals, a practice strongly condemned by judges.
