Camel beauty contest opens in UAE

A beauty contest with a difference opened in the United Arab Emirates on April

2nd. The Abu Dhabi Camel Festival, which will be held until April 10th, will see

10,000 camels trying to look their most beautiful. There is almost $10 million on

offer in prize money as well as 100 cars for the lucky winners. The event is the

biggest camel festival in the Arabian Gulf region. Camel owners will bring their

animals from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait to compete for the

prizes. The camels are put into different categories, depending on their age and

type. All camels must be pedigree - from a pure-bred origin. They must also be

free from any contagious diseases or physical defects. A group of expert camel

judges will choose the best animals in each of the categories. The identities of the

judges are a closely-guarded secret to make sure the competition is fair.

The festival is part of efforts by Abu Dhabi’s culture and heritage authority to

keep the traditions of the country alive. It also provides a financial boost for the

city. Festival organizer Sheikh Beti said: “The economic impact of the festival

has already been felt…as local businesses are thriving thanks to the

…participants from the Gulf countries and camel owners.” The festival has led to

an increase in camel prices. Sheikh Beti, however, believes that camel owners

will not sell their ‘ships of the desert’ until after the competitions. He thinks

people will want to keep their hopes of winning high. All camels at the festival

will receive free medical care, plus food and water supply. Abu Dhabi specializes

in pedigree camels and produced the world’s first ever “test-tube” camel. The

city also pioneered the use of robot camel riders, which have now replaced child