Beauty queens of the desert steal the show at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Camel Festival

Camels compete in the beauty pageant of the annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Rumah, some 160 kilometres east of Riyadh on December 24, 2020. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 14 January 2023
Follow

Beauty queens of the desert steal the show at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Camel Festival

  • Annual event outside Riyadh draws thousands of visitors to 17 different categories of competition
  • Festival became a high-profile spectacle after the council of ministers formally began to regulate it

RIYADH: Camels have long been associated with Middle Eastern history and culture. Indeed, for many Bedouin peoples who still live in the deserts of Arabia they continue to provide a source of food, transportation and clothing to this day.

Historically, the domestication of camels unleashed the potential of early Arab societies. Arabian armies were able to quickly conquer territory and establish large empires thanks to the speed and resilience of these “ships of the desert.”

It is therefore perhaps no surprise that festivals are held throughout the region to celebrate these qualities and the single-humped dromedary’s symbolic place in Arabian identity, even as the Gulf states rapidly embrace the trappings of urbanization.

One stand-out event in the region’s calendar is the Mazayen Al-Ibl — the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year to witness one of Arabia’s most unique competitions — the camel beauty pageant.

Considered one of the biggest events of its kind in the Middle East, the festival is made up of 75 camel competitions, with participants vying for prizes of up to SR100 million ($26 million). Indeed, rare-camel breeding is a multimillion-dollar industry in Saudi Arabia.

Although the festival, held at a showground north of Riyadh, has been taking place over many years, it was only after the Saudi Council of Ministers issued a decision in 2017 to formally regulate the event that it became the high-profile spectacle that it is today.




Saudi men cheer for camel owners taking part in a beauty contest during the annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Rumah, some 160 kilometres east of Riyadh, on January 19, 2018. (AFP/File Photo)

Organized by the Saudi Camel Club, the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives took over the management of the festival under the supervision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Camels are not usually the first animals that spring to mind when one contemplates beauty. But it would be unfair not to recognize the aesthetic attributes of even this most humble of livestock. So, this raises the question: How does a camel participate in a beauty pageant?

Breeders can either opt to enter a single camel or a herd of up to 50 in the contest. Candidates are then divided into categories based on their color — mijahim (dark skinned) and maghateer (light skinned).

These lighter-skinned camels are then further subdivided into wodh (bright white), sheal (yellow), sofor (yellow with black humps), shiggih (white but less bright), and homor (red).

Entrants are also categorized by age, with competitions for degh (camels under the age of five) and jel (over the age of five).

A separate category is reserved for sawahil, or coastal, camels, distinguished by their red coloring, large heads, long necks, large bodies, and greater overall body length.




Saudi cameleers parade their animals during the sixth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in the Rumah region, some 161Km east of the capital Riyadh. (AFP)

Then there are purebred asayel camels, which are known for their speed, meaning they are usually used in racing competitions. The most famous are the Omani, divided into asayel, hybrid (mehajjin), Al-Seairyat and Al-Awarik.

Of course, all of this begs the question: What exactly is a pageant judge looking for while trying to determine the beauty of a camel?

“The beauty features of the camel depend greatly on the head,” Mosallam Al-Hawamlah, a Saudi camel breeder, told Arab News.

“It is better to have longer lips and the nose is preferred to be high and curved. The beauty of camels increases when they have a longer beard and broader cheeks.”

There are also several features that are distinct to the mijahim and maghateer categories, including the size, shape and composure of their respective ears, tails and toes.

FASTFACTS

• Tens of thousands attend the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, staged northeast of Riyadh.

• The latest edition of the festival allowed women to show off their camels for the second time.

“It is preferable that the ears of the maghateer are short and sloped backwards, and the mijahim is preferred to be with long ears and sloped forward,” said Al-Hawamlah.

The camel’s neck is also a key determinant of its beauty, with judges preferring long necks set forward, provided they are in proportion with the rest of the body.

However, it is the positioning of the camel’s hump that is considered among the most important gauges of its beauty. According to Al-Hawamlah, judges prefer the hump to slope backward.

Mijahim camels are also often judged based on the curve of their legs. Winners tend to have legs with an inward curvature and also a long broad tail. Meanwhile, judges often prefer maghateer camels to have shorter tails.

As one might expect from a beauty pageant, participating camels are given a thorough makeover before they are presented to the judges, allowing breeders to accentuate their animals’ natural qualities.

Camels are washed, shaved, combed and styled to ensure they look their best. Some camel owners even opt to use hair-fixing spray to highlight the thickness of their animals’ mane.




A Saudi man leads camels as he heads back home from a training center on April 1, 2016 near the city of Tabuk, located some 1500km northwest of the capital Riyadh. (AFP)

To maintain the authenticity of camel breeds and to guard against mistreatment, organizers have in recent years cracked down on more invasive cosmetic enhancements.

At last year’s festival, 43 contestants were disqualified after breeders used botox injections and other forms of “tampering” to enhance their animals’ appearance.

According to SPA, some breeders even injected their camels with silicone and fillers, while others artificially inflated their animals’ body parts using rubber bands.

To detect any such tampering, festival judges and veterinarians thoroughly examine each camel with X-ray machines and sonar devices.

Stricter regulation means it takes a great deal of time and planning for breeders to prepare an animal for such a pageant, including the provision of proper transportation, fodder, health care and nutrition.

During the festival and throughout the year, breeders meet to buy and sell camels that have specific beauty criteria, striking deals valued in millions of dollars.

Mousa Al-Mousa, a camel owner, recently sealed a deal worth SR80 million ($21.3 million) to buy 17 deq camels from fellow breeder Mohammed bin Jokhdob.

More than 70 camels were auctioned in just the first three weeks of the current festival, with the highest demand for wodh and sofor.

While the value of camel sales has exceeded SR500 million at this year’s festival, the market value of the festival in the first five weeks amounted to about SR10 billion. Several major companies in Saudi Arabia sponsored the event.

Preparing for such competitions is a way of life for many camel breeders. In recent months, Mijbil Aldhifiri, a young businessman from Hafar Al-Batin in the Eastern Province, told Arab News that he had spent up to 12 hours a day caring for his prize-winner, Thokor.




Cars and people surround camels for sale during the annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Rumah, some 160 kilometres east of Riyadh. (AFP)

Another camel owner, Abdulaziz bin Shouraim, told Arab News that he was looking forward to participating in the next festival, adding that he struggled to purchase a camel with prize-winning looks, such is the high demand for such contenders.

Organizers have sought to diversify the festival by introducing new competition categories, including last year’s launch of a camel race for female breeders. This year they introduced the International Camel Organization event, where Royal Omani camel riders made their debut.

More than 32 participants from around the world competed in this year’s beauty pageant, which took place on Jan. 8.

Fifteen participants — nine from Iraq, two from Egypt, and one each from Yemen, Libya, Britain and India — qualified for the final round of judging. In the end, though, it was an Iraqi entry that came away with the prize for the most beautiful camel.

Iraq’s Watbaan Jabo Abbas Al-Rafi was ecstatic at taking first place.

“I was honored to participate in the festival’s competitions,” he told Arab News. “I thank all those in charge of it, as this festival today has become a global event with the participation of many countries.”

 


Saudi, Bahraini officials review King Fahd Causeway expansion plans

Updated 6 sec ago
Follow

Saudi, Bahraini officials review King Fahd Causeway expansion plans

MANAMA: Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef and his Bahraini counterpart, Lt-Gen. Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, conducted a joint inspection on Thursday of the King Fahd Causeway connecting the two kingdoms.

The officials were welcomed by Eastern Province Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Bandar and Suhail Abanmi, who heads both the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority and the causeway’s board of directors.

During the tour, Prince Abdulaziz and Sheikh Rashid reviewed ongoing development projects, focusing on expanded processing facilities and increased capacity measures designed to enhance cross-border travel efficiency, in line with Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council guidelines.

The 25-km long King Fahd Causeway is a series of bridges and causeways connecting AlKhobar in eastern Saudi Arabia and Al Jasra island in Bahrain. It was constructed in 1981 and opened to traffic in April 1985.

 


First AlUla World Archaeology Summit Symposium 2024 unearths past for the present and future

Updated 01 November 2024
Follow

First AlUla World Archaeology Summit Symposium 2024 unearths past for the present and future

ALULA: Antiquity came alive here at the first AlUla World Archaeology Summit Symposium 2024 titled “Moving Forward: Past, Present and Future in the Archaeology and Heritage of Mobile Communities.”

Held on Oct. 30 and 31, it was organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla and is a part of the new biennial series aimed at fostering global dialogue among experts in archeology and cultural heritage.

This year’s symposium provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the interactions between mobile and settled communities, with participants sharing global research, case studies and best practices.

The event took place at Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, which has 9,740 glass panels reflecting AlUla’s desert and landscape.

Built in 2019, Maraya has become an iconic part of AlUla’s cultural scene, hosting concerts, exhibitions and events that showcase both modern and traditional Saudi Arabia culture.

It was the perfect place to quite literally reflect on the past, while living in the present and looking to the future.

Reflecting on the symposium’s theme of mobility, organizers also addressed the global experience of halted movement during the recent COVID-19 global pandemic.

The theme of this year’s symposium encouraged critical examination of past and present mobility, from prehistory onward, as people have moved for various reasons; to access scarce resources, adapt to environmental pressures and respond to socio-political instability.

Speakers from six continents gathered to discuss topics including trade, commerce, climate change and conflict — all of which have shaped mobile communities throughout history.

The symposium highlights included keynote addresses by Willeke Wendrich from the University of California, Los Angeles, Stefano Biagetti from Pompeu Fabra University, UNESCO’s Peter DeBrine, and Khalid Alasmari from King Saud University.

Attendees visited archeological sites in Khaybar and Tayma and participated in panels and workshops focused on Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in archaeology.

Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, vice president of culture at the RCU, spoke about AlUla’s unique heritage in light of the symposium, describing itas‘a crossroads for connection, cultural and knowledge exchange.’ (Supplied)



In addition, the symposium program featured a new, specially-curated showcase of recent archaeological discoveries in AlUla, along with a preview of a world-first exhibition that will include artifacts from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli in Italy.

Ekhlass Al-Qananweh, who holds a doctorate in Northwest Semitic epigraphy, expressed delight at attending the symposium.

“I have a deep interest in antiquities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and journeyed here from Jordan to the architectural marvel that is Maraya to attend this gathering of the sharpest minds in the world of archaeology,” she told Arab News.

“In addition to the talks, I look with keen interest at the extremely qualified upcoming generation of archeologists — many of whom are in attendance — and I’m particularly interested in the vital participation of Saudi women in the field of archeological studies and in managing heritage and preserving it.”

During an Arab News interview, Adam Ford, cultural-heritage content expert at the royal commission, emphasized AlUla’s global significance and why it was chosen as host of the symposium.

“It is the World Archaeology Summit — it’s not an AlUla Summit. We want the world to come to us to discuss the world,” he said.

“The local community should be regarded as research partners with us,” he said, reiterating the RCU’s commitment to involving indigenous populations in preserving their heritage and amplifying it worldwide.

Ford also shared personal insights on the continuity of human experience across millennia. “We stand on the shoulders of giants … millions of actions and decisions and mistakes made by people of the past all culminate to now.”

He said that “although we will never meet these people,” their stories and choices continue to shape humanity’s present, emphasizing a universal pattern to endure, overcome challenges and pass on knowledge to future generations.

Certainly, if the lands could speak, they would echo stories that date back thousands of years when Lihyanite and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.

Today, AlUla contains lush oases, mountains and ancient heritage sites — as well as a thriving modern society. The best-known location in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A 52-hectare ancient settlement, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean kingdom. It comprises more than 100 well-preserved tombs, many with elaborate facades cut out of the sandstone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement.

In addition, AlUla is home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan, which is considered to be one of the most developed cities of the first millennium B.C.E. in the Arabian Peninsula.

There is also Jabal Ikmah, an open-air library with hundreds of inscriptions and writings, which has been listed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

AlUla Old Town, a hodgepodge, labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes, dotted with small businesses developed from at least the 12th century, was selected as one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages in 2022 by UN Tourism.

Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, vice president of culture at the RCU, spoke about AlUla’s unique heritage in light of the symposium, describing it as “a crossroads for connection, cultural and knowledge exchange.”

“Today, AlUla is one of the world’s most active areas for archeological exploration, with over 30,000 areas of archeological interest identified and more than a dozen active research projects,” he said.

“We established this event to become a progressive and leading platform for dialogue and collaboration, holding the first gathering in 2023 with an alternate format of symposium one year and summit the next.

“We are already laying the groundwork to build on the momentum of this event and for AWAS 2025.”


How AI and fintech are redefining the banking landscape in Saudi Arabia

Updated 31 October 2024
Follow

How AI and fintech are redefining the banking landscape in Saudi Arabia

  • Generative AI in banking is enabling personalized services, predictive analytics, and faster customer support
  • Saudi fintech leader MOZN is driving the financial AI transformation through its platforms FOCAL and OSOS

RIYADH: The financial industry is undergoing a seismic transformation, with artificial intelligence and fintech reshaping everything from regulatory compliance and customer experience to counter-fraud measures.

Across the globe, banks are adopting generative AI and machine learning to drive innovation, reduce costs, and enhance security. Saudi Arabia is emerging as a key player, with local tech companies like MOZN spearheading change.

Speaking to Arab News, Mohammed Alhussein, MOZN’s founder and CEO, highlighted the “enormous improvements in how financial institutions offer their services to customers” over the last decade.

“There are more products that reach more people. Those products are better, faster, and are being offered online,” he said. At the same time, however, the growth of online banking services has also “opened the door for fraudsters.”

Banks are rapidly integrating AI for a host of benefits, including predictive analytics, automated compliance, and fraud detection.

A key driver is the need for real-time, data-driven insights. The ability of AI to analyze vast amounts of data quickly is transforming how banks assess risk, manage assets, and engage with customers.

For instance, AI has enabled high-speed trading and personalized customer services by leveraging machine learning to identify individual preferences and optimize service offerings.

Shutterstock illustration image

AI’s predictive capabilities also allow for better risk assessment, making it easier for banks to anticipate and mitigate potential financial risks.

Generative AI is also playing a significant role in areas like customer service and product development.

In the banking sector, it powers “intelligent banking” systems that enhance customer experience by summarizing customer conversations and improving support agent responses.

It also assists advisers in retrieving essential product information quickly, thereby reducing the response time and elevating service quality for clients.

Furthermore, AI-driven tools are automating compliance processes, making it easier for banks to adhere to evolving regulatory standards, potentially saving financial institutions from costly penalties and reputational damage.

DID YOUKNOW?

• Saudi fintech leader MOZN has driven financial AI transformation through its platforms FOCAL and OSOS.

• Generative AI in banking is enabling personalized services, predictive analytics, and faster customer support.

• Banks leverage AI-driven fraud detection systems, identifying transactional anomalies in real time.

• MOZN was recently listed among the Top 250 Fintech Companies globally by CNBC and Statista.

With online banking services expanding, banks face an increased risk of fraud. AI is essential in developing sophisticated fraud detection systems that can identify anomalies in real time.

For example, fintech platforms now monitor large volumes of transaction data to identify potentially fraudulent activity instantaneously, helping mitigate risks before they escalate.

“Everything is digital. This means that financial institutions must now make identity-related decisions in real-time,” said Alhussein. “AI is really good at identifying anomalous behavior analysis patterns and doing it really quickly.”

MOZN founder and CEO Mohammed Alhussein highlighted the “enormous improvements in how financial institutions offer their services to customers” over the last decade. (AN photo/by Abdulrahman bin Shalhoub)

Advanced AI-driven compliance systems are also evolving. These systems are designed to constantly adapt to regulatory changes and identify emerging threats.

The automation of regulatory compliance processes allows banks to operate more efficiently, focusing on growth without compromising security.

Such systems are critical in Saudi Arabia, where financial institutions are expanding their services rapidly to keep up with the country’s Vision 2030 goals of a diversified, innovation-driven economy.

MOZN’s flagship compliance platform, FOCAL, is a prime example of AI in action, tailored to combat financial fraud through a unique blend of real-time identity verification and anomaly detection.

Mozn announced its FOCAL Anti-Fraud product at Saudi Arabia's LEAP 2023 tech conference at Riyadh Front Expo Center. (Supplied)

FOCAL actively screens and analyzes both customer and transactional data, immediately flagging suspicious activity that may indicate fraud or compliance breaches.

“We work with the financial sector specifically on one challenge, which is navigating and protecting against the risks of financial fraud,” said Alhussein.

“FOCAL is an AI-powered risk and compliance platform that financial institutions use to help protect their assets and their customers’ assets.”

MOZN has also developed OSOS, a generative AI platform specifically designed for Arabic language users.

MOZN's generative AI platform Osos is specifically designed for Arabic language users. (Supplied)

As Arabic content on the web grows, OSOS provides a culturally relevant solution, handling Arabic linguistic nuances and serving enterprises across the region.

Equipped with anti-hallucination features, OSOS minimizes bias and enhances accuracy by training on a diverse, balanced dataset. This feature is crucial as it ensures outputs are relevant and reliable, which is especially important for business and regulatory contexts.

“In developing OSOS, two of the main cornerstones of the values we are adding are minimizing both bias and hallucinations,” said Alhussein.

“OSOS has performed exceptionally well in different benchmarks that we’ve tested, and we’re very optimistic about where this is going.”

MOZN’s advancements have not gone unnoticed. The company was recently listed among the Top 250 Fintech Companies globally by CNBC and Statista — a testament to its influence in the fintech industry.

Opinion

This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field)

This achievement underscores the company’s success not only in technology but also in meeting the specific needs of financial institutions in the region.

By achieving a 350 percent increase in customer acquisition since 2022, MOZN exemplifies the upward trajectory of Saudi fintech.

MOZN office in Riyadh. (AN photo/by Abdulrahman bin Shalhoub)

Its success reflects a broader regional trend of fintech growth, as countries in the Middle East and North Africa increasingly embrace digital transformation in banking, and advances in AI across all sectors and industries.

“The future of AI in Saudi Arabia is extremely exciting,” said Alhussein.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to be a company born in Saudi Arabia and to witness the amazing transformation happening in the country, specifically regarding technology and artificial intelligence.”
 

 


King Salman, crown prince offer condolences to Spain following deadly flooding

Updated 31 October 2024
Follow

King Salman, crown prince offer condolences to Spain following deadly flooding

  • The flash floods, which occurred late Tuesday and into Wednesday, have claimed at least 158 lives

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have extended their condolences to King Felipe VI of Spain in the aftermath of catastrophic flash floods that have ravaged the country’s southeastern region, resulting in extensive loss of life and leaving many unaccounted for.

In separate cables to the Spanish monarch, both Saudi leaders expressed heartfelt condolences and deep sympathy to the Spanish people, the families of the victims, and those affected, offering their hopes for the safe return of the missing.

The flash floods, which occurred late Tuesday and into Wednesday, have claimed at least 158 lives, with 155 fatalities recorded in the Valencia region alone.

Spain, which has endured nearly two years of drought, saw its hardened ground unable to absorb the intense rainfall, causing severe flash floods that left vehicles and buildings inundated.

Search and rescue operations continued on Thursday as crews combed through stranded cars and flooded homes for victims.

“Unfortunately, there are dead people inside some vehicles,” Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente stated earlier, as the death toll spiked from 95 on Wednesday night.

Authorities warn that more victims may still be discovered as rescue efforts proceed.


Saudi and Bahraini interior ministers inspect upgrades on King Fahd Causeway

Updated 31 October 2024
Follow

Saudi and Bahraini interior ministers inspect upgrades on King Fahd Causeway

RIYADH: The Saudi Minister of Interior and his Bahraini counterpart visited the King Fahd Causeway on Thursday to inspect ongoing developments aimed at improving transit efficiency between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

During the visit, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud and Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa received briefings on various projects by the King Fahd Causeway Authority, including plans to expand procedure zones and increase the crossing’s capacity, Saudi Press Agency reported.

These upgrades align with directives from the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council to streamline travel between the two nations.

Additionally, the ministers reviewed newly implemented passenger lounges for public transportation users and the prepaid toll routes, which have successfully reduced toll gate waiting times to under 15 seconds.

The improvements are part of broader efforts to enhance travel experiences for the growing number of people using the causeway.