Updated April 2023

Have I ever mentioned how dope my parents are? They are always down to meet up anywhere and Kuwait was no exception. It’s too bad they don’t have a blog because they travel much more than I do. In January of 2018, they decided to go on a Middle Eastern Tour. My father is on a travel challenge of visiting one country for every letter of the English Alphabet A-Z. He has completed most letters but with us living in the region he couldn’t pass up visiting Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait.

When they came to visit I wasn’t really sure what to do with them. As I’ve said before, it can be difficult to find things to do in Kuwait besides the Kuwaiti Towers. Unfortunately, The Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre wasn’t open yet and we needed more to do than just the Al Shaheed Park. From asking around someone had suggested looking into Camel Racing.

Finding information on the actual camel racing itself was somewhat difficult but nonetheless we endeavored to make this trip possible.

Where Are The Camel Races

 

 

The races take place at the Kuwait Camel Racing Club. This place is truly in the middle of the desert. So nope, that map isn’t blank. It’s sand. If you zoom out you will see the track. The club is located on the edge of the Al Hamdi Governorate. Probably the furthest South West that you will ever go. From our home near the airport, it took us around 40mins with no traffic. 

How To Get There

I think it would behoove you to get a driver for the day. While some people arrived in taxis, it would be incredibly foolish to drive all the way out there and not have a secure ride home. We ended up hiring a driver for the day. Our driver told us that he has been living in Kuwait for over 20 years and he has never once ventured out that far. Lucky for us he was willing to take the risk. TIP: Find a driver who has an SUV. The sand is serious out there and the last thing you want is to get stuck. 

When Does Camel Racing Take Place

We found that camel racing takes place every Saturday from October to April. There are international tournaments held in February. The races start around 1 PM and usually finish around 3:30-4 PM. Call +965 2539 4015 to double-check the schedule. 

Cost

The entrance to the club is free.

Arriving At The Club

In all honesty, we weren’t sure what to expect upon arriving there. In reality, I was just hoping that the place was real and that we didn’t drive all the way out in the desert for nothing. So anything beyond that qualified as a pleasant experience.

Upon arrival, we weren’t really sure where to go. Instead of entering the actual club, we followed some Bedouin men around the back. This is where most people were hanging out since it was close to the track. In addition to the camels that were racing, there were a few camels you could ride. They had many stunning colors like white, black, brown, and tan. I am uncertain if white camels are as rare as black ones but I have never seen one in real life before. The white camel was beautiful and majestic but we did not go too close to it as it had an attitude. Haha. It was wailing, groaning, and spitting and I personally did not want to be on the receiving end of its ire.

You can also ride a camel here. The owner of the camel walks you around in a big circle, which was more than enough for a first ride. If someone you know plans to ride a camel for the first time make sure you have the camera rolling for the standing up and sitting down portion. It will be hilarious. There are no set prices so we paid the man 2KD ($6USD). He was really happy with the fare.

What To Expect

If you have ever been to a horse race or dog track this is essentially the same thing. The only difference is the track is much longer, full of sand, and the animals are a bit slower. Owners of the camels drive along the track and follow behind their camels.

They have the ability to reach their camels through the robots perched on their backs. The robots crack the whip and serve as a walky-talky between the camel and the owner. Back in the day, the camels throughout the Middle East were ridden by small children. After it was internationally recognized as child slavery (not sure if this includes Kuwait) the practice was discontinued. If you drove an SUV and truly trust your extreme off-road driving skills you can find your own adventure by driving along with the race. 

During the day there are multiple races. Each race lasts maybe 10-15 minutes. Thinking about that lets you know just how large the track is. You have two options of places to view the race. You can stand outside or go into the clubhouse. If you decide to stand outside this is where all the action is. Because the track is so long there is no way to view the entire race from standing outside. Everyone stands near the finish line to catch the excitement of the first camels to reach it. Although camels aren’t the fastest, people, Bedouins and foreigners alike, stand there and cheer them on as they cross. 

Inside the clubhouse, people are much more refined. The VIP’s have a roped-off section where they sit at the front window to watch the race outside and on the TVs. There is a cameraman who rides along with the leading pack to show the race live in the clubhouse and to the nation. If you sit inside be prepared to be on TV as there is a cameraman inside who is there to catch the people’s reactions.

Overall Review

We had a great time at the Kuwait Camel Racing Club. The people who ran the club were nothing but hospitable. Even though no one really spoke English they were able to offer us free tea in the clubhouse and water bottles when we decided to leave. While we did not get to drive along with the race, I would return just to get that experience. We stayed for a little more than two hours which I think is more than enough time to enjoy a few races and the grounds. I would recommend if you are ever in Kuwait, you should check this out as there aren’t many places in the world you can get this experience.

Don’t Want To Go Alone?

The AWARE Center hosts events in Kuwait check to see if they are planning on going sometime soon

Where to Stay in Kuwait?

Kuwait has quite a few nice hotels. Make sure if you are traveling with someone of the opposite sex you are able to produce a marriage certificate as many places will ask for it.

Don’t live in Kuwait but want to view the race? Check out this highlight video of our visit

 

 

**This post contains affliate links**

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