AlUla Camel Cup

Mar 14, 2023 - Mar 17, 2023
From SAR 50

Under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the inaugural AlUla Camel Cup crowned a ‘Champion of Champions’ complete with a grand prize pool of SAR 80 million to become 'The Pinnacle of Camel Racing'.

Watch the livestream on AlUla Moments YouTube channel

AlUla Camel Cup

The AlUla Camel Cup Experience

14 – 31 March

Top Gun

Take your aim at this one-of-a-kind pop-up, brought to AlUla by the biggest shooting range in the Middle East – Top Gun. Experience the best in shooting, open to both novice and expert shooters, with safety always the main priority.

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Heritage Village

This purpose-built trackside venue offered visitors plenty of space for leisure and relaxation, including restaurants and food stalls, exclusive retail, and close-to-the-action grandstand seating.

Live Entertainment

AlUla Camel Cup hosted a variety of musical acts, including poets and artists showcasing their talents. DJ Sharkk brought the vibes with his mix of chilled-out tunes on 14 and 15 March from 8:30 - 9:45 pm.

Family-Friendly Activities

This festival offered camel-related fun for all ages, including crafts workshops creating everything from camel rope tassels to camel hand puppets. You could also learn some incredible camel facts and more at 360-degree video zones.

Showcase your Style

A highlight of the social calendar, the AlUla Camel Cup was the place to see and be seen, so you had to be sure to dress-your-best for this esteemed event. You could even get inspired and add to your wardrobe at a fabulous on-site fashion boutique.

AlUla Camel Cup Venue

Experiences

Ticket Types

Passes could be bought for individual days or as a 4-day package and seating was open across all passes. General admission tickets included races, daily entertainment, and access to the Heritage Village.

Single Day Pass

General admission tickets included races and access to the purpose-built Heritage Village with entertainment, restaurants and food stalls, a qafila-style retail experience, and close-to-the-action grandstand seating.
 

4-Day Pass

You could book to attend all four days of the AlUla Camel Cup and the fourth day was on us. Included all extras of the single day pass.

Race Schedule (4:00 pm- 6:00 pm)

Day 1 (Human Jockeys)
Marathon Races: 6 rounds of 4km
Day 2 (Robot Jockeys)
Hagayeg (camels between 1-2 years old): 2 rounds of 4km
Lagaya (camels between 2-3 years old): 2 rounds of 5km
Day 3 (Robot Jockeys)
Jiza (camels between 3-4 years old): 2 rounds of 6km
Thanaya (camels older than 6 years old): 2 rounds of 8km
Day 4 (Robot Jockeys)
Day 4 races had the highest prize money at 7.5million SAR per round for the 1st place winner.
Heil (camels between 5-6 years old): 1 round of 8km
Zmoul (camels between 5-6 years old): 1 round of 8km

 
Key Information

* Please note this event was live-streamed.  Watch the livestream on AlUla Moments YouTube channel.

Event Times

  • Venue Open: 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily
  • Last Entrance: 9:00 pm
  • Races: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm daily

Entrance Policy
  • Please bring your digital ticket and ID (either a passport or Iqama) for entry. Failure to do so may result in denied entry.
  • Children 3 and younger are welcome and do not need a ticket. Proof of age may be required for ticketless entry.
  • Children 4 and above will need to purchase a ticket for entry.
  • All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Parking and Accessibility
  • Complimentary parking is available at Winter Park, with regular shuttles available to the venue.
  • Limited complimentary parking is also available at the venue.

* Please note this event was live-streamed.

Highlights

Day 3

Day 3 of the AlUla Camel Cup and the atmosphere was electric on and off the track! The crowd were captivated as the camels raced for glory to take home a coveted winners trophy!

Day 2

Day 2 of the AlUla Camel Cup showcased the speed of young camels and the use of robot jockeys. Beautiful weather, an incredible atmosphere and more big wins continue to put ‘The Pinnacle of Camel Racing’ in AlUla on the map.

Day 1

Visitors felt the excitement of Day 1 of the AlUla Camel Cup. From revealing the one-of-a-kind trophies, exploring the Heritage Village and watching the exciting races, this was a magnificent first day of ‘The Pinnacle of Camel Racing’.

Camel Cup Racing

A Camel Cup Rooted in History

The History

The abundance of camel carvings etched into the area's ancient rock bear witness to the pivotal role these iconic ‘ships of the desert’ have played in AlUla culture and civilisation for millennia. And camel racing can be traced as far back as the seventh century, putting it among the region’s oldest – and most popular – sports.

The Trophy

The winner of the AlUla Camel Cup received a priceless, one-of-a kind trophy crafted from sterling silver and 24-carat gold plate. The expert craftsmen at Thomas Lyte have incorporated a design paying homage to the region’s beauty, featuring camels, rock art, and depictions of AlUla’s landscape.

Robot Jockeys

Robot jockeys have been increasingly used in camel racing. These robo-jockeys are built from lightweight materials to help increase the camel’s speed and often include features like GPS, heart rate sensors and walkie-talkies so owners can send commands to their animals.

Camel Welfare

With on-site veterinarians implementing strict rules on checks and monitoring before, during and after races, together with plenty of water and rest time, AlUla Camel Cup always upholds the highest standards of camel welfare.

What's On: Top Experiences in AlUla

Need help planning what to do before and after the AlUla Camel Cup? Check out our Top 10 List for all the best things to do and see in AlUla when you're not at the AlUla Camel Cup.

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Day 1 Podium

Day 1 Podium

Official Sponsors

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AlUla’s diverse landscapes and challenging terrain make it a unique place to host a range of sporting events. From the world’s first sandy-pitch Polo arena to trail running through a UNESCO World Heritage Site, see what incredible sporting events are coming to AlUla below.

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Plan Your Trip To AlUla

Flying to AlUla

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What to Do

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Where to Eat

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Where to Stay

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