United Arab Emirates
Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack — also signposted as the Dubai Camel Race Track — is the emirate's principal camel racing venue, sitting in the desert along the Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66) beside Al Lisaili, roughly a 30-minute drive from central Dubai. It is the home of the Dubai Camel Racing Club, which stages race mornings through the October–April season and hosts the Al Marmoom Heritage Festival each spring, when thousands of camels from across the Gulf compete for multi-million-dirham prizes. Watching sixty camels pour from the gates with robot jockeys aboard, trailed by a convoy of 4x4s, is one of Dubai's most distinctive free spectacles.
At a Glance
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66), Al Marmoom, beside Al Lisaili |
| Operator | Dubai Camel Racing Club (dubaicrc.ae) |
| Race season | October to April, typically weekend mornings |
| Race timings | Early morning; exact times vary — check the club's calendar or Smart Race app |
| Spectator entry | Free at regular races, per published guides; the Heritage Festival is free to attend |
| Signature event | Al Marmoom Heritage Festival, every spring (22 March – 2 April in 2026) |
| Field size | Up to 60 camels per race |
| Jockeys | Robot jockeys (introduced 2005), remote-controlled from following 4x4s |
| On site | Grandstand area, adjacent camel hospital and camel laboratory |
| Getting there | Car or taxi only — no metro; ~30 minutes from central Dubai via E66 |
| Nearby | Al Marmoom Heritage Village, Al Lisaili |
Dubai's Home of Camel Racing
From Bedouin Tradition to Organised Sport
Camel racing is one of the oldest organised sports in the Gulf, rooted in Bedouin gatherings where tribes raced their best animals. In the UAE it has become a professionally administered sport with breeding programmes, veterinary science and serious money: racing camels start at around AED 10,000, and the finest animals change hands for millions. Published visitor guides consistently describe Al Marmoom as the largest, best-equipped and most popular camel track in Dubai — the flagship venue for that heritage.
The Dubai Camel Racing Club
The track is the base of the Dubai Camel Racing Club, which describes itself as a leading regional institution for camel racing operating under the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The club administers the racing calendar, publishes schedules on its official site (dubaicrc.ae) and runs a Smart Race mobile app — the most reliable way to confirm timings before driving out. The club is reported to have been founded in 2008; its listed contact number is +971 4 718 8888.
The Robot Jockey Era
The sport's most visible modern feature is the small robot jockey strapped to each camel's back. The UAE began enforcing its ban on camel jockeys under 15 on 1 September 2002, under directives of Sheikh Zayed, and in 2005 robot jockeys were introduced as the replacement. Each robot carries a mechanical whip arm operated by remote control from the owner's or trainer's vehicle. The change ended the use of child jockeys and reshaped race day itself: the human drama now unfolds in the convoy of 4x4s tracking the field, drivers working the remotes and urging their camels on through loudspeakers.
What to Expect on a Race Morning
Season and Timings
The racing season runs October to April, with meetings typically held on weekend mornings and smaller races cropping up through the rest of the year. Races start early — most published guides indicate a window of roughly 6am to 9am, though listed timings differ from guide to guide — so treat any single published timetable with caution. Check the club's website or Smart Race app for the current calendar, and aim to arrive around first light.
The Race Itself
Up to 60 camels flood from the starting gates in a single race. Trainers and owners follow in 4x4s, controlling the robot jockeys by remote and urging the camels on via loudspeaker — a moving wall of vehicles that is as much of the spectacle as the racing itself. During festival meetings, published guides put the camels' top speeds at around 40 km/h. Race distances vary with the camels' age and class; the 2026 Heritage Festival finale was run over 8 km.
Before and After the Races
Arriving early has a second reward: before racing begins, visitors can get close to the camels, pet them and take photographs as handlers walk them to the start. The complex also includes an adjacent camel hospital and a camel laboratory — evidence of a professional sporting operation, not a staged tourist show.
What It Costs
Published guides state there is no entry fee for regular races, and the Heritage Festival is explicitly free to the public. Budget only for transport; betting plays no part in UAE camel racing.
The Al Marmoom Heritage Festival
Dubai's Biggest Camel Racing Event
Every spring the track hosts the Al Marmoom Heritage Festival, the finale-scale event of the camel racing year. The 2026 edition ran for 12 consecutive race days from 22 March to 2 April 2026, packing in 333 races with more than 6,000 camels from the UAE and the wider Gulf, and a total prize purse of about AED 9 million (US$2.46 million). Public access was free, including a complimentary Big Bus viewing service on selected days. Earlier editions were even larger: Gulf News reported over 11,000 camels and a Dh125 million purse — with a luxury 4WD for each race winner — at the 2016 festival, organised by the club under the banner of the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Center.
Race Categories and Prizes
Festival racing is organised into named prestige categories. In 2026 these included the Golden Saddle, Golden Khanjar, Golden Rifle and the Sword of the Emirates (Golden Sword) races — the last of these the marquee finale, with a first prize of around AED 2 million (US$544,000). In 2026, festival sessions were reported to run mornings and early afternoons, though specifics vary year to year — check official announcements.
The Heritage Village Next Door
The festival is a cultural event as much as a sporting one. A few hundred metres from the grandstand sits Al Marmoom Heritage Village, which comes alive during the festival with a traditional souq, Emirati food, handicraft demonstrations, mock traditional weddings and live music. The 2018 edition featured a market of around 100 shops and kiosks plus dance troupes from Oman, India and Africa. The village is free to enter, though individual attractions inside may charge. During festival season, plan for both: races first, village afterwards.
Practical Information
Getting There
Al Marmoom is a desert venue on the Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66) with no metro connection — access is by car or taxi only. From central Dubai it is an easy drive of roughly 30 minutes down the E66 towards Al Ain; the Heritage Village shares the site. If you take a taxi out for an early meeting, arrange your return in advance — passing cabs are scarce in the desert.
Timing Your Visit
The October–April season aligns with Dubai's cooler months, and desert race mornings are genuinely pleasant. Outside the season there is no guarantee of activity on a given day, which makes checking the club's calendar essential. The best window for a first visit is the spring Heritage Festival, when racing, prize ceremonies and the village programme run together.
Not Dubai's Only Track
Al Marmoom is the flagship venue but not Dubai's only one — the other well-known location is the Al Khawaneej Racing Track, closer to the city. For visitors, Al Marmoom is the better-documented option, with the club, hospital complex and festival concentrated on one site.
The Al Marmoom and Al Lisaili Area
The racetrack anchors a small cluster of desert heritage sites along the E66. Al Lisaili, the neighbouring locality, is the community most closely associated with Dubai's camel racing scene, and Al Marmoom Heritage Village sits a few hundred metres from the grandstand on the same site, with the track lying beside the village and the Al Lisaili area. The wider Al Marmoom desert is one of Dubai's main areas for desert conservation and dune activities, so a race morning pairs easily with a desert excursion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack?
Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack — also called the Dubai Camel Race Track — is Dubai's principal camel racing venue, located on the Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66) beside Al Lisaili. It is the base of the Dubai Camel Racing Club and is widely described as the largest and best-equipped camel track in the emirate, with an adjacent camel hospital and laboratory.
When is camel racing season in Dubai?
The main season runs October to April, with races typically held on weekend mornings. Smaller races pop up through the rest of the year, but there is no guaranteed daily schedule — check the Dubai Camel Racing Club's calendar or its Smart Race app before travelling.
What time do camel races start at Al Marmoom?
Races run early in the morning — published guides indicate a window of roughly 6am to 9am. Exact timings vary by meeting, so confirm the day's schedule through the club's official channels.
Is it free to watch camel racing at Al Marmoom?
Published guides state there is no entry fee for regular race mornings, and the Al Marmoom Heritage Festival is explicitly free to attend — the 2026 edition included a complimentary Big Bus viewing service on selected days. The only real cost is transport.
Why do robots ride the camels?
The UAE began enforcing a ban on camel jockeys under 15 on 1 September 2002, and robot jockeys were introduced in 2005 as the replacement. Each camel carries a small remote-controlled robot with a mechanical whip arm, operated by the trainer or owner from a following 4x4.
What is the Al Marmoom Heritage Festival?
It is Dubai's biggest annual camel racing event, held at the racetrack every spring. The 2026 edition ran 22 March – 2 April with 333 races over 12 days, more than 6,000 camels from across the Gulf, about AED 9 million (US$2.46 million) in prizes and an 8 km finale. Entry is free, and the adjacent Al Marmoom Heritage Village runs a parallel cultural programme of markets, food and performances.
How do I get to Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack?
By car or taxi only — the venue is in the desert on the Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66) and is not reachable by metro. From central Dubai it is roughly a 30-minute drive. If arriving by taxi, arrange your return in advance.
Can I take photos or get close to the camels?
Yes. Arriving early, before racing starts, lets visitors pet the camels and take photographs as handlers bring them to the start. The 4x4 convoy chasing the field is itself highly photogenic.
How much is a racing camel worth?
Racing camels are highly valuable animals: prices start at around AED 10,000 and extend into the millions for elite bloodlines. At the Heritage Festival they compete for named honours such as the Golden Saddle, Golden Khanjar, Golden Rifle and the Sword of the Emirates, whose first prize in 2026 was around AED 2 million.
Is Al Marmoom the only camel racetrack in Dubai?
No. Dubai's other well-known venue is the Al Khawaneej Racing Track, closer to the city. Al Marmoom is the flagship: it hosts the Dubai Camel Racing Club, the camel hospital complex and the annual Al Marmoom Heritage Festival, and sits beside Al Marmoom Heritage Village and Al Lisaili.