The Saudi Camel Racing Federation has announced the launch of a new competition exclusively for Saudi camel owners, introducing the Crown Prince Camel Festival Cup with a SR500,000 ($133,300) prize awarded to the owner who accumulates the highest number of points throughout the season.
The competition will debut during the eighth Crown Prince Camel Festival, which begins on September 3 at the Taif Camel Racing Track and will run throughout the 2026-27 camel racing season.
New Points System
Under the federation’s newly introduced scoring system, winners of public races and Saudi-bred races will receive 25 points, while second, third, fourth, and fifth places will earn 20, 15, 10, and 5 points, respectively.
For all other races, only the winner will receive 10 points, with no points awarded to other finishers.
Strict Competition Rules
The federation has introduced four regulations governing the competition, including confirming points only after anti-doping test results have been finalized following each festival.
If a camel is sold or transferred during the season, all accumulated points will automatically transfer to the new owner.
Owners whose camels test positive for prohibited substances, are found to have used electric shock devices, or employed any method affecting the animal’s physical condition will be disqualified from the competition.
Tie-Breaking Criteria
If two or more owners finish with the same number of points, the winner will first be determined by the number of championship titles (“symbols”) won during the season.
If the tie remains, the title will be decided based on the fastest recorded race time.
Preserving Heritage and Supporting Vision 2030
According to the federation, the new competition is part of its strategy to encourage greater competition among Saudi camel owners, strengthen domestic camel breeding, preserve the Kingdom’s rich camel racing heritage, and contribute to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by promoting traditional sports and cultural heritage.
