MUSCAT: The eighth edition of the Al Bashayer festival for Purebred Arabian Camel Racing 2025 will continue for six days with Oman and GCC participants competing in 79 rounds for valuable prizes including 20 cars, three daggers, three guns, seven cups and the golden and silver swords.
The prestigious camel festival will be held at Al Bashayer Square in the Wilayat of Adam from February 10 to 15.
The race is considered one of the most important sporting events held annually in the Sultanate of Oman, attracting a large number of camel owners and trainers across the GCC countries.
The annual event is supported by His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs, Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan.
HH Sayyid Asaad pointed out that the festival seeks to enhance the status of equestrian sports in the Sultanate of Oman in line with Royal directives to protect Omani heritage and to establish an integrated sports environment that encourages emerging generations to adhere to original customs and traditions.
HH Sayyid Asaad said: "The annual Al Bashayer Festival for Arabian Camel Racing is considered one of the most prominent camel race festivals in Oman and GCC countries, which is supported by the government of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. The event is to encourage young people to adhere to values, customs, traditions and heritage."
"Al Bashayer Festival of camel racing was and still is one of the most important sporting, cultural and social forums in Oman and GCC countries because of the honourable sporting competition and shared cultural values that are evident in the spirit of love and brotherhood between camel owners and trainers," he added.
SIX-DAY EVENT
The first day, February 10, will be for the ‘Hagayeg’ category, two years old, for 4 km. Nineteen races will be in the morning with cash prizes for the top ten. In the afternoon, there will be 8 main races with cars, a cup, and a gun as prizes for the winner and cash prizes for the top 10.
The second day, February 11, will be for the ‘Lagaya’ category, three years old, for 5 km divided into 15 races in the morning with a cash prize for the top 10. Seven main races will start in the afternoon, with five cars, two cups and a gun for the winners and cash prizes up to 10th place.
The third day, February 12, will be for the ‘Yathaa’ category, 4 years old, for a 6 km race. Eleven races will be in the morning with cash prizes for the top 10. Four main races will be in the afternoon, and the winners will receive four cars, two cups, and a gun, in addition to the cash prizes for the top ten.
On the fourth day morning, February 13, four races will be for the ‘Thanaya’ category, 5 years old, for a distance of 8 km with a dagger in the main round. Four races are allocated for the ‘Al Hawl’ category, 6 years and above, with a dagger for the main winner. Both categories will have cash prizes for the top 10.
The afternoon competitions will be for human riders, with two races for 1,500 metres with cash prizes. The main race will be for 12 km. The winner will receive an SUV car and cash prizes for the top 10.
The concluding ceremony will be held on the final day, February 15, in the afternoon. The competition will include 4 main races for 8 km for the old category, with two races offering SUV car prizes and two cups for the winners. The winner of the fourth race will receive the golden sword and an SUV car, while the third race winner will get the silver sword and an SUV car.
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