{
  "id": 6092563,
  "title": "Over 1,600 Saudi-bred camels compete at Crown Prince Camel Festival",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/over-1-600-saudi-bred-camels-compete-at-crown-prince-camel-festival",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T03:12:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ajel English",
    "slug": "ajel-english",
    "url": "https://english.ajel.sa/sports/d50vj8f3l"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over 1,600 camels bred in Saudi Arabia participated in the 2026 Crown Prince Camel Festival, showcasing the growing prominence of local breeders. The event featured dedicated Saudi Production races, with 989 camels competing in the Haqayeq category and 671 in the Laqaya category. The Laqaya races will continue next Tuesday, with two additional races aimed at the Crown Prince Camel Festival Saudi Production Cup, potentially attracting another 100 camels. The eighth edition of the festival is being held at the historic Taif Camel Racecourse, organized by the Saudi Camel Federation. The event's prize pool exceeds 50 million riyals (SAR). The Saudi Camel Federation has set aside prizes specifically for the Saudi Production races, as part of its efforts to empower local owners and breeders, stimulate investment in national camel breeds, and elevate their technical and competitive standards. CEO Mahmoud Al-Balawi noted that the participation of more than 1,600 camels demonstrates the expansion of the local production sector. He highlighted that supporting these specialized races has provided Saudi owners with increased opportunities to compete, refine their breeding programs, and establish lucrative investments in the industry. Balawi added that the Haqayeq and Laqaya category performances and speeds underscore the excellence of national breeds, boosting their market worth and contributing to the creation of a sustainable sporting and economic environment, while reinforcing the role of Saudi producers in camel racing. Supporting the Saudi Production aligns with the Saudi Camel Federation's broader objectives of advancing the sector, augmenting its economic impact, and preserving its heritage, all in accordance with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.",
  "summary": "More than 1,600 Saudi-bred camels took part in the 2026 Crown Prince Camel Festival, highlighting the growing presence of local breeders.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}