Al Wathba Camel Race Track

Racing at Al Wathba runs through the cool months, usually early in the morning, and the format is unlike any other race meeting: small robot jockeys strapped to the humps are worked by remote control while the owners drive along a parallel track beside the racing camels, shouting instructions and operating the whips by radio. Camel racing as a social practice and festive heritage was inscribed by UNESCO in 2020, in a nomination shared with Oman.

What you actually see

• The robot jockeys - remote-controlled riders that replaced child jockeys.
• The parallel road - owners driving alongside the track and controlling the robots by radio.
• The morning meetings - races run early in the day through the cool season.
• The camel market - trading and equipment stalls around the track.

When to go

October to April is the racing season and meetings are usually early in the morning. Major festivals fall in the winter months. There is no racing through the summer.

Honest expectations

Race times are early and schedules are not well published in English. There is no formal spectator provision and visitors watch from the edges. Nothing happens here outside the season.

Nearby

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is west, and the fossil dunes are east.