The first preliminary race of the second edition of Al Ain Festival 2026 for camel racing concluded today at Al Rawdha track in Al Ain, with competitions in the Al Hawl and Al Zamoul age category over a distance of 4 km.
The curtain came down on this stage's competitions, with the second preliminary race set to resume on 31 July, as part of the festival's schedule, with broad participation from camel owners across the United Arab Emirates and Gulf Cooperation Council states.
'Qazween', owned by Saeed Muslim Saeed bin Tahi Al Rashdi, topped Heat 1 with a time of 6:22:16 minutes, while 'Al Sharid', owned by Ahmed Rashid Al Hadfi Al Ketbi, claimed Heat 2 with a time of 6:19:34 minutes — the best overall time.
'Al Noof', owned by Bukhait Hamad bin Salem Al Balushi, won Heat 3 in 6:38:57 minutes, 'Shar'a', owned by Obaid Hamad bin Afsan Al Mansouri, claimed Heat 4 in 6:46:28 minutes, and 'Nasi', owned by Mabkhout Mohammed Loutia Al Ameri, took Heat 5 in 6:31:19 minutes.
Heat 6 went to 'Zakher', owned by Suhail Ahmed bin Deri Al Falahi, in 6:32:93 minutes, 'Irsad', owned by Muslim Mubarak Hamad Al Oud Al Ameri, won Heat 7 in 6:28:29 minutes, and 'Adeem', owned by Sultan Mohammed bin Fadhel Mohammed Al Hamli, took Heat 8 in 6:31:22 minutes.
'Ra'oud', owned by Saeed Salem bin Suwaid Al Mushaifri, claimed Heat 9 in 6:33:66 minutes, Heat 10 went to 'Nada', owned by Hamad Qatami bin Saeed Al Khyaili, in 6:22:97 minutes, and 'Ashqar', owned by Nasser Jaber bin Ali Al Marri, won Heat 11 in 6:31:95 minutes.
Heat 12 went to 'Hafla', owned by Mubarak Khalifa bin Dbaib Al Shamsi, in 6:27:57 minutes, 'Harba', owned by Hamad Al Dhaimi bin Hamad Al Ameri, won Heat 13 in 6:35:63 minutes, and 'Tashar', owned by Rashid Haji bin Mudeel Haji Al Kaabi, claimed Heat 14 in 6:34:11 minutes.
In the remaining heats, 'Ghara', owned by Issa Salem bin Abdullah Al Tawqi, won Heat 15 in 6:38:72 minutes, 'Al Marid', owned by Ahmed Humaid bin Dawais Al Shamsi, claimed Heat 16 in 6:28:51 minutes, and 'Jalmoudah', owned by Saeed Abdullah bin Kirdous Al Ameri, took Heat 17 in 6:39:15 minutes.
Heat 18 went to 'Al Mundafi', owned by Ahmed Humaid bin Dawais Al Shamsi, in 6:42:29 minutes, 'Ilaj', owned by Ali Rashid bin Miftah Al Shamsi, claimed Heat 19 in 6:42:37 minutes, and 'Al Musaifir', owned by Salem Saeed bin Salim Al Dar'i, closed out the competition by winning Heat 20 in 6:35:59 minutes.