The closing ceremony of the seventh edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival was held yesterday in Riyadh, with the Governor of Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Bandar, attending on behalf of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar gave out the first-place awards at the pageant.
In his speech delivered at the outset of the gala, Saudi Camel Club Chairman Fahd bin Hathleen said: “Over the 45 days since the festival began, the owners of the camels, my brothers, have been competing over which one has the most beautiful of its six most beautiful colors in a unique race made possible through the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is leading our country as it races to the pinnacle at the world stage.”
He added that 35,000 camels competed in the seventh edition of the festival, while 24,000 had taken part in the sixth edition, and the number of participants rose from 1,900 to 2,200 in the latest edition.
“Prince Faisal bin Bandar, on behalf of all my brothers and sisters the camel owners and their fans, I would like to express my immense gratitude for your unlimited support on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz. We will continue to work alongside the leadership of this honorable country to develop this vital industry, which reflects our robust and authentic heritage that has always been part of the march toward realizing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions.
