干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

There have been considerable changes seen in the camel racing industry over the past 20 years in the United Arab Emirates. An increase in the popularity and the value associated with the racing animals created the need for a well managed and well regulated sport that also served to focus attention on the camels role in the history and heritage of the UAE.

In a short space of time camel racing changed from random races in the desert to large circular 8-10 km track races monitored on closed circuit TV. Training evolved from a ride across the dunes to "tafeem" and tread milling. Veterinary treatment became high tech laboratories and hospitals instead of traditional bedu homeopathy and race management developed to post race doping tests and robotic jockeys.

This paper will review the changes in the management of camel racing over the last 20 years and discuss the influence of some of the veterinary and training advances that occurred in the camels in that time.