Riyadh: The participation of women in the camel racing event at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Camel Festival 2025 has increased by 100% compared to the first edition last year. This has prompted the organizing committee to add a second race due to the growing demand, which includes 18 Saudi female camel riders.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the festival's second edition began last Monday at the Janadriyah Camel Race Track in Riyadh, organized by the Saudi Camel Federation, with the competitions set to conclude next Wednesday. The total value of prizes exceeds SAR 70 million.
In the first edition of the festival, the number of participating female camel riders was 15, representing nine countries: Saudi Arabia, Germany, Iran, France, Jordan, Oman, the United Kingdom (UK), Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this year's edition, the number has risen to 30 from 12 countries: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United States of America, Poland, Algeria, France, the UAE, Oman, Switzerland, the UK, Yemen, and Germany.
The increase in the number of participating women camel riders has also contributed to a rise in the prizes, from SAR188,000 to SAR 376,000, with the first-place female rider receiving SAR60,000.