São Paulo – The documentary Camel Race Secrets presents the tradition of camel racing, one of the heritage sports of the United Arab Emirates. The 12-minute film received narration and subtitles in Portuguese, English, and ten other languages, in addition to Arabic, and can be watched on the Youtube channel of the Emirates News Agency (WAM), which produced the documentary, linked at the bottom of this story.
The film showcases the historical and cultural aspects of the camel racing sport in the UAE, the connection between camels and the country’s culture, and how this has shaped national identity.
The work also addresses the pioneering spirit of the UAE in the organization and international recognition of camel races. Today, the country is considered the world capital of the traditional sport. The races were supported by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, and the country’s next leaders followed his legacy.
The UAE have made progress in all areas related to camel breeding in light of current developments in veterinary medicine, which made complex operations possible despite the large size of the animal. The documentary also showcases camel races in the desert, revealing the secrets of camel genetics that explain their performance levels and the significant advances in nutrition.
Through scenes of camel racing in the country and abroad, the film also shows the interest of the UAE leadership, its support for the preservation of its authentic historical heritage, and its guidelines to establish festivals beyond the country’s borders, to feature races with huge prizes and fierce competition continuing for decades.
With live footage of racetracks, the film shows the start of a race as the heat of the day intensifies during preparations for mounting and installation of relevant equipment and highlights the value of camels as they draw the attention of buyers from all over the world at auctions, where animals were sold for prices up to USD 1 million.
The film features scenes of nighttime camel racing at Dubai’s race track, including female jockeys.
The historical context of the thriving camel racing scene in the UAE is also addressed in the documentary. Deals to buy wild camels in the UAE in the 1990s created a wave of enthusiasm for racing. The film spotlights the local’s love for camels, an integral part of the country’s cultural heritage.
WAM director-general Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi said in a release the film is part of a series of documentaries produced by the news agency which aim to spread the UAE’s cultural message to the rest of the world and emphasize its overall achievements.
Al Rayssi noted the documentary showcases the prominent global status of the UAE and its legacy in camel racing as it has become the international capital of the sport.
The documentary includes interviews with camel trainers, sports commentators, surgeons, geneticists, nutrition experts, owners, riders, and other camel enthusiasts, as well as shots of camel races and breeders in Australia.
Watch the documentary in English below:
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro