Abdullah Al Rushud

RIYADH: 120 kilometers away from Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival took place. Since long ago, camels have enjoyed a special status among people in the Arab world, and this unique festival is for all of those who love camels and want to see their prosperity. 

The main aim of this festival is to increase the value of camels and showcase their heritage, as well as make the kingdom to be one of the most important cultural tourist destinations for people who want to see that legacy. Contestants vied for a number of prizes, such as the king’s sword, with winners being decided by camel races and camel beauty contests.

There were 250 million riyals’ worth of winnings at the 6th King Abdulaziz Camel Festival. The festival included contests across a variety of different categories, and over 70 planned games have been carried out over a stretch of 43 days. 

IWAI Fumio, who currently serves as the ambassador of Japan to Saudi Arabia, also attended the Camel Festival. He announced his joy at being able to ride a camel for the first time. 

In a tweet posted on his Twitter account, Iwai commented: “I was pleased to be able to participate in the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival yesterday. Riding a camel for the first time in my life was a fantastic experience.”

لقد سعدت بزيارة مهرجان الملك عبد العزيز للإبل يوم أمس ويعتبر هذا المهرجان أكبر مهرجان للإبل في العالم. وقمت بتعلم بضع كلمات عربية جديدة تصف ألوان الإبل مثل (الوضح، الشقح، الشعل، الخمر، الصفر، والمجاهيم). الشيء الجميل هو وإنه وللمرة الاولى في حياتي قمت بتجربة ركوب الجمال. pic.twitter.com/dV8kMKxfZe

— Iwai Fumio🇯🇵 (@FumioIwai) January 7, 2022