Doha, January 6 (QNA) - President of the Qatar Camel Mzayen Club Dr. Mabkhout Bofareih has affirmed that the Qatar Camel Festival “Jazilat Al-Atta” has become a distinctive feature on the heritage festival calendar and a leading platform reflecting the State of Qatar's commitment to preserving authentic camel heritage.

He added that the festival organizes competitions based on fair principles and standards, with broad participation from camel owners both within and outside the State of Qatar.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Bofareih stated that the fifth edition of the Qatar Camel Festival “Jazilat Al-Atta” is not merely about competitions and prizes, but rather a message of preserving heritage, strengthening identity, supporting camel owners, and solidifying Qatar's position as a leading destination for organizing camel festivals according to the highest standards.

He commended the significant role of Qatari camel owners in preserving authentic camel heritage and strengthening national identity through their active participation in the festival's competitions. He also welcomed all participants from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The President of the Qatar Camel Mzayen Club stated that the club has allocated valuable prizes for the winners of the fifth edition of the Qatar Camel Festival 2026, which will feature 119 rounds across three categories: Maghatir (with its three varieties: Sha'al - yellow, Shaqah - red, and Wadah) (37 rounds), Asayel (44 rounds), and Majahim (38 rounds). These categories encompass various age groups, from young camels (Mafarid) through three-year-olds (Haqayiq, Laqaya, Jatha'a, Thanaya, Daq, and Jal).

The fifth edition of the Qatar Camel Festival will take place over 31 days at the Mzayen area in Labseer, from January 11 to February 10, with significant participation from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Bofareih emphasized that the club places special importance on Qatari camel owners, supporting them and recognizing their vital role in preserving the authentic camel heritage and strengthening national identity through their active participation in the various rounds and competitions organized by the club annually.

Regarding the anticipated large Gulf participation in the festival, the club president welcomed all participants from the GCC countries, emphasizing his commitment to providing all necessary facilities to ensure their smooth and easy participation and to create a fair competitive environment that showcases their skills and talents.

Concerning the prizes allocated for the various rounds throughout the festival, he explained that the prizes include 56 cars and 387 sashes, which will be awarded during the competitions. A total of 1,090 winners will be selected, with prizes awarded to the top ten finishers in all rounds except for the dagger, spear, rifle, and sword rounds in the various categories, where prizes are awarded only to the top five finishers.

He added that the prize money has been increased to unprecedented levels in the fifth edition of the grand annual festival, following an increase in the number of races compared to the previous year.

He noted that cars will be awarded to the top three finishers in the races for spears, rifles, and swords, and a car will be given to the winner of the dagger races and the Challenge Cup races for various categories (young camels, yearlings, two-year-olds, and older camels).

The President of the Qatar Camel Mzayen Club noted that cash prizes have also been allocated for the top ten finishers in the remaining races across all categories, starting at QR 100,000 for first place and decreasing to QR 5,000 for tenth place.

In line with efforts to enhance integrity and transparency during the fifth edition of the Qatar Camel Festival 2026, " Jazilat Al-Atta", President of the Qatar Camel Mzayen Club Dr. Mabkhout Bofareih confirmed that the festival will offer a clean market service for those wishing to buy and sell registered camels, ensuring they are free from any form of tampering or hormones.

During the press conference, Bofareih added that the festival will allow participants to have their camels pre-tested to confirm they are free from tampering or hormones before participating in individual or group competitions, after paying a pre-testing fee of QR 3000 per camel.

The club president emphasized that this year's edition includes several new prestigious awards, most notably the "Raa'i Al Nazar" accolade, which aims to discover promising local talents, develop the judging skills and abilities of those involved in camel beauty contests, and underscore the festival's commitment to developing young national talent.

He added that the festival will also include an award for the best poem, titled "Poet of Jazilat Al-Atta", worth QR 30,000, in recognition of literary creativity and to encourage the preservation of popular and literary heritage related to camels and Qatari traditions. He noted that the terms and conditions for participation in both competitions will be announced soon through the club's social media platforms.

Bofareih emphasized that the club is committed to holding the festival annually out of its dedication to preserving authentic heritage. He stressed that, for this reason, adherence to regulations is essential to prevent any tampering with or manipulation of the camels, whether in terms of appearance, color, or the use of any substances or hormones that affect their natural characteristics. Any camel found to be in violation of the rules will be disqualified to maintain the integrity of the competition and the credibility of the festival.

The President of the Qatar Camel Mzayen Club indicated that several specialized committees have been formed to manage the festival, including committees for organization, judging, identification, age verification, and technical matters. The identification and age verification committee plays a pivotal role in determining the age, category, and color of the camels, and ensuring they are free from crossbreeding. Its decisions are final and not subject to appeal, in the interest of transparency and fairness.

The camels participating in the fifth edition of the Qatar Camel Festival "Jazilat Al-Atta" will compete for 119 titles across three different categories over 31 days.

Throughout its duration, the festival will feature 119 races across the different categories, including both local and international events. Significant cash prizes have been allocated for these races. The Qatar Camel Festival is the first festival to encompass three categories and specializes in camels, their beauty contests, and their distinctive characteristics. It aims to preserve this traditional sport and instill it in future generations, as well as to safeguard purebred and rare Arabian camel breeds.

The festival is expected to witness unprecedented participation from Qatari and Gulf camel owners and enthusiasts, building on the significant interest and widespread participation it has garnered in its previous four editions from owners across the GCC countries. (QNA)