-- The eighth edition of the Crown Prince Camel Festival will begin on September 3, 2026. Recognised as one of the world’s leading sporting and heritage events dedicated to camel racing, the festival enjoys strong government and public support aimed at preserving this deep-rooted cultural tradition and strengthening the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a premier destination for the sport of its ancestors.
The historic Taif Camel Racing Track will host this major international event, bringing together prominent camel owners from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, alongside notable international participation that reflects the festival’s growing global stature year after year.
This year’s festival introduces several developments and new features designed to enhance the investment value of camel racing. The Saudi Camel Racing Federation has allocated millions in prize money, to be awarded over 11 days of intense competition featuring 248 races across all officially recognised categories.
This generous support has directly contributed to raising the market value of racing camels and rare breeds to record levels, encouraging owners and investors to expand their breeding and production ventures while generating significant financial returns and rewarding investment opportunities.
The eighth edition will also introduce the Crown Prince Camel Festival Cup, which will be awarded to the Saudi owners who accumulate the highest number of points, further intensifying the excitement of the competition. The programme will also feature dedicated Arab races for non-GCC member federations, involving both human riders and robotic jockeys. Men’s and women’s camel-riding races will also continue, highlighting the festival’s global reach and inclusive character.
Taif’s business sector has also benefited significantly from the festival’s sporting momentum. These efforts were recognised when the festival received the Makkah Award for Economic Excellence. Throughout the event, the governorate experiences exceptional commercial activity, with occupancy rates across hotels, furnished apartments and resorts in Taif and the nearby Al-Arfa district reaching nearly 100%.
The festival’s economic impact extends to local markets and the retail sector, driven by multimillion-value camel sales, strong demand for camel equipment and feed, and increased activity at veterinary pharmacies. Its timing also coincides with Taif’s agricultural harvest season, providing local farmers with a valuable marketing platform to showcase grapes, pomegranates and other seasonal fruits. Productive families and artisans likewise benefit from opportunities to market their handmade and traditional products to international visitors.
The eighth edition builds on a remarkable record of success dating back to the festival’s launch in 2018. In its inaugural year, the event entered Guinness World Records as the world’s largest camel racing festival based on the number of participating camels.
Over the past seven editions, the festival has continued to surpass its own records, attracting tens of thousands of camels and evolving from a sporting competition into a major economic, tourism and cultural celebration. In doing so, it has cemented Taif’s status as the summer capital of purebred Arabian camel racing.
This year’s edition once again underscores the unwavering support extended by the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the camel sector. It also contributes to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by reinforcing national identity and advancing the sporting and economic activities associated with this treasured cultural heritage.
Contact Info:
Name: Khaled Alkharji
Email: Send Email
Organization: Crown Prince Camel Festival 2026
Website: https://scrf.sa/
Release ID: 89201534
In case of identifying any problems, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content shared in this press release, or if a press release needs to be taken down, we urge you to notify us immediately by contacting error@releasecontact.com (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your concerns and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any issues identified or assist with the removal process. We are committed to delivering high-quality content and ensuring accuracy for our valued readers.
