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RIYADH: The Crown Prince Camel Festival returned to Taif this week with record-breaking numbers and high stakes, drawing camel owners from across the Kingdom eager for victory.

Among them is Fahad Ben Jouroh, a seasoned competitor from Hail and director of the local racing track. He has invested heavily in his herd of more than 50 camels, ranging from two to six years old, and is confident they will do well on the track.

A multiple previous winner at the festival, he was discreet about the cost of his nearly 90-day stay in Taif but said the accommodation for himself, his team and guests cost about SR100,000 ($26,600).

One of his camels had already won a race and more victories were expected, he said.

He said he had sold 40 camels in recent weeks for a combined total of more than SR14 million.

“Camel racing has its own atmosphere and the spirit of competition in these events is truly unique,” he told Arab News.

He praised the facilities at the Taif track, calling it “perfect for camel racing” and highlighted the sport’s growing competitiveness and rising prize values.

This year’s festival opened on Tuesday and runs until Sept. 12. A record total of more than 100,000 camels are set to take part, which is more than for all of the previous six editions combined.

Camel racing has its own atmosphere and the spirit of competition in these events is truly unique.

Fahad Ben Jouroh, Seasoned competitor

Organized by the Saudi Camel Federation, the event is one of the highlights on the Kingdom’s cultural calendar and features races across multiple categories.

The Laqaya group (for 3- and 4-year-olds) alone includes 64 4-km races and a prize pool of more than SR50 million. On the opening day 1,495 camels competed in the Haqayiq category (for 2- and 3-year-olds).

Last year the festival was recognized by Guinness World Records for having the largest ever number of camels at a racing festival, with 21,637.

The event also won the Makkah Economic Excellence Award in 2023, underscoring its role in celebrating heritage and boosting cultural and economic engagement.

RIYADH: ������Ƶ highlighted its humanitarian efforts worldwide as it marked International Day of Charity, a UN initiative promoting social responsibility, volunteering, and the role of charitable institutions in providing aid and supporting communities.

The National Center for Non-Profit Sector plays a key role in regulating and supervising the sector, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

It aims to support the sector’s operations and help achieve goals aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, including increasing the nonprofit sector’s contribution to the national economy to 5 percent and raising the number of volunteers to 1 million by 2030.

Charitable work is a pillar of social solidarity, and the Kingdom has contributed to humanitarian efforts worldwide, the SPA reported.

Saudi charitable organizations provide diverse services, from healthcare and housing assistance to vocational training programs that help young people become self-reliant, reflecting the sector’s reach across the Kingdom.

The UN General Assembly in 2012 designated Sept. 5 as International Day of Charity to raise awareness and encourage participation in charitable activities.

Marking the day, Saudi aid agency KSrelief highlighted the Kingdom’s humanitarian work. Since 1975, ������Ƶ has provided more than $141 billion in aid, funding 8,134 projects in 174 countries.

In the past decade, KSrelief has implemented 3,632 projects in 108 countries, worth more than $8.15 billion.

These projects have assisted millions of people in countries including Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Somalia, according to the report.

Recent efforts in the Gaza Strip included delivering more than 7,500 tons of aid and 20 ambulances via air and sea.

The Sahem electronic donation platform has also raised more than SR1.61 billion ($430 million), reflecting public trust in the agency.

KSrelief has received several international awards, and the Kingdom initiated the UN designation of Nov. 24 as World Conjoined Twins Day. These efforts align with Saudi Vision 2030 to promote a more equitable and inclusive future.