United Arab Emirates
Al Marmoom Heritage Village is the cultural ground attached to Dubai's main camel racing complex on the Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66), out in the desert near Al Lisaili. For most of the year it is a quiet neighbour to the racetrack; each spring it becomes the stage for the Al Marmoom Heritage Festival, one of the largest camel racing gatherings in the Gulf, complete with a traditional souq, Emirati wedding displays, handicrafts and live music. This guide covers what the village is, what you will find on a visit, the festival in detail, and how to get there — for trip planners and anyone researching the heritage behind the UAE's robot-jockeyed national sport.
At a Glance
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| What it is | Emirati heritage village and festival ground beside Dubai's camel racetrack |
| Location | Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66), Al Marmoom, near Al Lisaili |
| Organiser | Dubai Camel Racing Club (Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Center banner) |
| Main event | Al Marmoom Heritage Festival, held every spring |
| 2026 festival | 22 March – 2 April: 12 race days, 333 races, 6,000+ camels |
| Entry | Free; individual attractions inside may charge |
| Racing season next door | October–April, typically early weekend mornings |
| Access | Car or taxi only — no metro connection |
| Drive time | ~40 min from Downtown Dubai, ~45 min from the airport (published guides) |
| Neighbouring facilities | Al Marmoom camel racetrack, camel hospital and laboratory |
A Heritage Village Beside the Racetrack
What it is
Visit Dubai's official listing describes Al Marmoom Heritage Village as a cultural destination on Dubai's outskirts where, during the Al Marmoom Heritage Festival, residents and tourists shop and explore handicrafts, local cuisine, traditional wedding set-ups and live music for a first-hand glimpse of Emirati lifestyle. Rather than a standalone museum with fixed daily hours, it is the festival ground and cultural face of the camel racing complex around it.
The village sits a few hundred metres from the grandstand of the Al Marmoom camel racetrack, which Visit Dubai describes as the largest, best-equipped and most popular camel track in the emirate, home of the Dubai Camel Racing Club — close enough that a visit to one is effectively a visit to both. The club that runs the racing also organises the festival, historically under the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Center banner.
Why camel racing matters here
Camel racing is one of the Emirates' oldest organised sports, and Al Marmoom is where Dubai concentrated it. Two dated milestones shaped its modern form. On 1 September 2002, under directives issued by Sheikh Zayed, the UAE began enforcing its ban on camel jockeys under the age of 15 — a decisive break with the child-jockey era. In 2005, robot jockeys were introduced as the replacement: small remote-controlled machines strapped to each camel's back, operated by owners and trainers driving alongside the track — the system every race at Al Marmoom runs on today.
The camels themselves are serious assets — Visit Dubai puts prices at upwards of AED 10,000, extending into the millions for proven champions — and the complex reflects that value with a dedicated camel hospital and laboratory beside the track.
Visiting: What to Expect
During the festival
The village is at its fullest during the spring festival. Coverage of the 2018 edition (29 March – 12 April) describes a traditional market of around 100 shops and kiosks, mock Emirati weddings, handicraft demonstrations, dance troupes from Oman, India and Africa, and a Year of Zayed exhibition supported by Dubai Culture, with local cuisine and live music throughout. It is one of the few settings in Dubai where Emirati heritage is presented for a largely local crowd — camel owners and racing families from across the Gulf — with tourists welcome rather than centred.
Some tour operators also advertise Bedouin tent set-ups, falconry displays and stargazing during the festival; these do not appear in official listings, so treat them as possible extras rather than fixtures.
Outside the festival
No official source publishes year-round opening hours or a standing daily programme for the village, and UAE Inform has not been able to verify one. Outside the festival weeks, the reason to drive out to Al Marmoom is the racetrack next door — the camel racing season runs October to April, with races typically held early on weekend mornings and smaller meets scattered through the rest of the year. Turn up on a random summer afternoon and you are likely to find a quiet site; time your visit for a race morning or the festival.
Watching a race
Race mornings are the free spectacle anchoring the complex. Up to 60 camels surge from the gates per race, robot jockeys aboard, while owners and trainers follow in convoys of 4x4s, working the jockeys' remotes and urging the camels on through loudspeakers. Published guides put racing speeds at up to roughly 40 km/h. Spectating at regular club races is free; arrive before racing starts to see the camels up close and take photographs. Races generally run early mornings in season, but exact start times vary by meet — check the Dubai Camel Racing Club's current calendar before driving out rather than relying on a fixed timetable.
The Al Marmoom Heritage Festival
How the festival grew
The festival is the largest event on the UAE camel racing calendar and returns every spring. The 2016 edition (20 March – 1 April 2016) drew more than 11,000 racing camels from across the GCC into over 314 races over roughly 3–7 km, with a total prize purse of AED 125 million; prizes included luxury 4WDs and cash, and admission was free. Gulf News coverage that year credited the Dubai Camel Racing Club as organiser under the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Center.
The 2026 edition
The most recent festival, organised by the Dubai Camel Racing Club, ran 22 March – 2 April 2026 at the Al Marmoom camel racetrack: 12 consecutive race days, 333 races, and more than 6,000 camels from the UAE and the wider Gulf, competing for a total prize pool of about US$2.46 million (roughly AED 9 million). The programme built to an 8 km finale, and public access was free throughout, including a complimentary Big Bus service that carried spectators along the track for elevated viewing.
Prizes and race categories
The 2026 edition's prestige categories included the Golden Saddle, Golden Khanjar and Golden Rifle races, culminating in the Sword of the Emirates — the Golden Sword finale — whose first prize was around US$544,000 (roughly AED 2 million). With individual camels changing hands for sums from AED 10,000 into the millions, a major festival title is both a financial and a cultural prize for the winning stable.
Practical Information
Getting there
Al Marmoom is desert territory: access is by car or taxi only, with no metro connection, and the complex sits directly on the Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66). Visit Dubai calls the racetrack a roughly 30-minute drive from central Dubai; published guides put the village at about 40 minutes from Downtown and 45 from the airport. Some third-party guides mention public bus route 13B (roughly 1 hour 45 minutes), but it is not corroborated by official sources — plan around driving or a taxi, and book the return ride through an app.
Costs
The village is free to enter, though individual attractions inside may charge a fee during the festival. Spectating at regular camel races next door is also free, and festival admission has been free across all documented editions, including the 2026 Big Bus viewing service. In practice, a visit costs you the fuel and whatever you spend in the souq.
Contact and timings
The village publishes no standing opening hours, so plan through the Dubai Camel Racing Club, which publishes race calendars and a Smart Race mobile app on its official site (dubaicrc.ae). Published directories list the club, founded in 2008, on +971 4 718 8888. Check the current calendar before making the drive, especially outside the October–April season.
The Al Marmoom Area
The village anchors a wider desert district worth combining into a single trip. The Al Marmoom camel racetrack is the working heart of the complex, with its grandstand, camel hospital and laboratory a few hundred metres away. The surrounding community is Al Lisaili, the E66 desert settlement whose economy and identity are built around the camel industry. Al Marmoom is not Dubai's only racing venue — the emirate's other well-known track is at Al Khawaneej, closer to the city — but it is where the flagship festival and the biggest race days happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Al Marmoom Heritage Village?
A cultural venue on the Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66), a few hundred metres from Dubai's main camel racetrack. Visit Dubai describes it as a place where residents and tourists explore handicrafts, local cuisine, traditional wedding set-ups and live music during the annual Al Marmoom Heritage Festival — a first-hand glimpse of Emirati lifestyle.
Is Al Marmoom Heritage Village free to enter?
Yes. The village is free to enter, though individual attractions inside may charge a fee. Spectating at regular races on the adjacent track is also free, and every documented festival edition from 2016 to 2026 has had free admission.
When is the Al Marmoom Heritage Festival?
The festival returns every spring. The 2026 edition ran 22 March – 2 April; the 2018 edition ran 29 March – 12 April, and the 2016 edition 20 March – 1 April. Dates shift year to year, so check the Dubai Camel Racing Club's announcements before planning a trip.
What happens at the festival?
Two things at once: top-level camel racing and a heritage programme. The 2026 edition packed 333 races and more than 6,000 camels into 12 days, with about US$2.46 million (roughly AED 9 million) in prizes and an 8 km Sword of the Emirates finale. On the village side, past editions have featured a traditional market of around 100 shops and kiosks, mock Emirati weddings, handicraft demonstrations and international dance troupes.
Can I visit outside the festival?
There is no published year-round opening schedule for the village, so a dedicated off-season visit is a gamble. The better plan outside festival weeks is a race morning at the adjacent Al Marmoom camel racetrack: the season runs October to April, with free entry for spectators.
What time do the camel races start?
Races run early in the morning during the October–April season; published sources differ on exact hours, but most guides cite starts between about 06:00 and 07:00, wrapping up by mid-morning. Major festivals can add further sessions later in the day. Check the Dubai Camel Racing Club's calendar or Smart Race app for confirmed timings before driving out.
Why do robots ride the camels?
The UAE banned camel jockeys under 15 with enforcement from 1 September 2002, under directives of Sheikh Zayed, and in 2005 introduced robot jockeys as the replacement. Each racing camel now carries a small remote-controlled jockey, operated by owners and trainers who follow the race in 4x4s and urge their camels on by loudspeaker.
How do I get to Al Marmoom Heritage Village?
By car or taxi only — the site is in the desert on the Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66) and is not reachable by metro. Reckon on roughly 30–40 minutes from central Dubai and about 45 from the airport; book your return taxi through an app, as passing cabs are rare.
What else is near Al Marmoom Heritage Village?
The Al Marmoom camel racetrack is immediately next door, together with the complex's camel hospital and laboratory. The surrounding community is Al Lisaili, the E66 desert settlement built around Dubai's camel industry. Dubai's other well-known camel racing venue, Al Khawaneej, lies closer to the city.