Amal Misfer Al-Farran made history on August 15, 2021, when she became the first woman to own camels to participate in the prestigious Crown Prince Camel Festival in Taif.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – August 21, 2021 – Entrepreneurs
The festival – a celebration of an essential part of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage – was created in 2018 and this year’s event will feature 532 races with total prizes of 53 million Saudi riyals ($14.1 million).
The festival has helped establish the Kingdom’s position as a leading global destination for camel racing. Saudi Arabia chairs the World Camel Racing Federation, which was established in 2019 and is based in Riyadh. In the same year, the Crown Prince Camel Festival set a new Guinness World Record with the participation of 13,377 camels.
This year’s festival kicked off on August 8 at Al Jamal Square in Taif.
Al-Fran had three camels working in the “Al-Haqiq” category (for a two-year-old) as part of the preliminary stage of the festival – Al-Dana, the Pearl, and Al-Jarrah. At one point in the 4km race, Jarrah led the field but eventually came second.
This year’s festival kicked off on August 8 at Al-Jamal Square in Taif and will feature 532 races with total prizes of 53 million Saudi riyals ($14.1 million).
Al-Fran told Arab News that she has spent years studying camel racing and learning how to best invest in the sport that her family has enjoyed for generations.
“The feeling of joining such a race is in itself a happy experience, but it’s also a huge responsibility because I feel like I represent the women in this sport,” she said. “It is an integral part of our heritage that we are proud of.”
She explained that choosing a beauty to buy can be a complex and lengthy process, as there are many sellers. To choose a racing camel, one should turn to one of the more well-known owners, and try to find a camel that has been bred from a long line of racers. Buyers also need to think about which category they want their camels to race in – the two main sections of camel racing are for camels under five years old, and those five or older.
Apart from buying more camels, Elfran is also considering venturing into the lucrative world of breeding.
Al-Fran hopes that her participation in the Crown Prince Camel Festival is just the beginning of a long journey. She plans to participate in future events, as well as to encourage other Saudi women to venture into business and be a part of this important aspect of Saudi heritage.
She currently owns several beauties and says her husband and three children, whom she calls her “support system,” all help with their care.
“My children understand the importance of this sport in our family heritage, and their support fuels my enthusiasm and motivates me to achieve more,” she said.
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Source: Ukrgate
