Camel Racing Festival ends in Srabioum desert of Ismailia

CAIRO – 15 March 2018: The Camel Racing Festival's 17th round ended on Tuesday in Srabioum desert of Ismailia in an event that attracted tourists as well as participants from nine countries from the Middle East, Africa and Europe in a show of camel beauty and strength.

Camel Union President Eid Hemdan revealed that nine countries have joined this cycle of the festival, including Saudi Arabia, Jordon, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, Eritrea, France and Switzerland.


Two boys riding their camels during the festival on March 13, 2018 – Mohamed Awad

Hemdan added that some Arab contestants use camels raised by Egyptian tribes, which have ties of kinship with other tribes in neighboring countries.

Camel races are held on a five-kilometer track and the distance of the race is determined according to the age and ability of the camel.


Children race as part of the festival on March 13, 2018 – Mohamed Awad

Ahmed al-Raidani, a camel care specialist, said that all of the tribes are responsible for taking care of their camels and of protecting the animals well.

Despite the unbearable weather in the desert in Sinai, in Srabioum and in Belbes, People are always trying to establish projects and plantations to cultivate the desert and benefit from the great space they have. Being extremely intelligent in dealing with nature and its resources, the Bedouin tribes have always succeeded in their endeavors.


A camel during sunset as the festival ends on March 13, 2018 – Mohamed Awad

Tribes gather in four annual camel race events in Sinai, Ismailia, New Valley and Aswan. Each tribe is proud of the camels they have, which can reach an award of LE 500,000 ($28,360) according to the camels' ability to endure, their speed and their age.


Two Bedouins talking after the end of the festival on March 13, 2018 – Mohamed Awad