The eighth King Abdulaziz Camel Festival commenced on Friday with the slogan Glory to its People

The eighth King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, with the tagline "Glory to its People," presented by the Saudi Camel Club, got underway on Friday. The 45-day event is held at Al-Sayahid, 120 km northeast of Riyadh.

The Dahna desert, which formerly served as a hub for trade routes connecting the Arabian Peninsula's east and west, came to life during the event. Today, it has been revitalised as a travel destination, with lodging and stores dispersed throughout. The location was selected because of its deep historical value and national importance. In the past, it served as a meeting place for the forces of the country's founding monarch, Abdulaziz Al-Saud, in addition to being a destination for traders and pilgrims.

The festival intends to expand the community's traditions while promoting the camel's historical significance in Saudi, Arab, and Islamic culture. It also offers an integrated economic system that includes camel-related companies, supplies, and auctions.

The Saudi Camel Village in Mazayen Al-Ibl was established by the festival organisers to host camel-related events and activities. Their goal is to establish it as the world's premier camel site. Al-Mazayen Square, which occupies 264,000 square metres and has 85 barns, the main area that can hold 450 people, and the VIP stands that can hold 312 people, make up the initial part of the town.

The second edition is devoted for accomodation and is split into three categories, with a total estimated area of 1.1 million square metres. Al-Dahna Market, which is 2 km long and 6 kilometres from the festival's centre, is the third portion.

The third segment contains the settlement centre and the desert park. Along with spaces for cultural and recreational events, they also have a marketplace where people may buy handicrafts, food, and folk art.

The festival also features traditional and cultural events for all ages. The festival this year has over 20 events spread across 18 venues in the Al-Sayahid neighbourhood, including competitions, displays, and performances appropriate for audiences of all ages.

More than 320 competitive rounds are available, including purebred camel racing (Hajjij), traditional racing, camel beauty pageant events (Mazayna), and camel racing without jockeys.

In addition to riding camels, visitors may take souvenir photos with the animals and get to know them by milking, feeding, caring for, and cuddling them. The Al-Oqailat Museum, the dialogue poetry event, the falcon area, and the folk market, which features antique and traditional goods and collectibles like crafts, camping equipment, camel supplies, traditional seating, spices, coffee-making supplies for families, and traditional food, are also included in the festival.