Camel races in the United Arab Emirates traditionally are staged for wedding feasts and other celebrations. The races used to be held in desert areas or near the wedding site.
Usually, the ruling family offered prizes, but when a desert race was held in conjunction with a wedding feast, the groom or his family usually offered prizes to the winner.
The occasion used to be a simple one. It also was traditional for spectators and wedding guests to toss henna and saffron onto the heads of the winning beasts.
Special committees supervise the races and oversee the ceremonies, which are often attended by the sheikhs and their families, local government authorities, foreign diplomats and other high-ranking guests.
Sub-committees serve other functions, including compiling racing statistics, recording camel ratings and listing their classifications. The Line Committee is in charge of catching the first 10 winning camels in every race. The Financial Committee oversees the distribution of prizes. Moreover, the Services Committee provides spectator assistance.
