If you’ve ever imagined what the sport of competitive camel racing might look like, this is the place to find out.
Whether you’re a sheikh, a local non-royal resident or a traveler, visit Al Shahaniya Camel Racetrack for a unique only-in-the-Middle-East experience. Watch camels careen around oval tracks at 30 to 40 miles per hour (50 to 65 kilometers per hour). These magnificent animals that look somewhat gangly at rest take on a graceful appearance at racing speed. The sport has existed in Qatar for thousands of years.
From a distance, note that the jockeys look especially small compared to thoroughbred horse jockeys. Until a safety ban in 2004, the need for lightweight jockeys led to having children as young as 4 years old riding the camels. Walk close to today’s racers and you’ll see that the jockeys are, in fact, small robots wearing racing silks. Remote control managers activate the robots’ whips, reins and trash talk to spur on the animals. Marvel at the marriage of the very old sport of camel racing with the ultramodern technology of robots to give this sport continuing appeal.
Camels race on concentric oval tracks for distances generally less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) with special competitions as long as 6 miles (10 kilometers). Owners, trainers and even spectators often drive on a separate roadway around the outer track to follow race action.
Come to the Al Shahaniya festival in March or April when as many as 6,000 camels arrive from Arab states to participate in huge international competitions with large monetary winnings.
Al Shahaniya Camel Racetrack is in the middle of Qatar, halfway between Doha and Dukhan. Travel west from Doha by car for about 40 minutes and park in the lot serving the racetrack and local businesses. The track holds local tournaments from November through February on Friday evenings. Visit on other days from midmorning onward to watch camels relaxing after their morning training runs.
Before returning to Doha, stop at the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum near the track to view cultural artifacts, ranging from cars to carpets, that the sheikh has collected from around the world.
