Camel Racing in the Desert: Highlight in Abu Dhabi

They are dozens. Long, thin legs - that's all you can see. A wide banner blocks the view of their bodies. However, the relentless sound of hooves makes it clear that there's great excitement beyond the barrier. Something is about to happen - you can almost feel it in the air. Finally: a crack sounds, the barrier shoots up, and the camels (to be specific, dromedaries) burst forward.

A young camel stumbles, trips, and is mercilessly trampled by its companions. Dazed, it picks itself up again. Fortunately, it is not injured. Its handler, who leads it off the course, shows disappointment on his face: This race is over. There's a new chance next week: Fridays, at the camel races on the Al Wathba track, about 28 real miles and seemingly light-years away from the city of Abu Dhabi.

When Sebastian Vettel competes in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, thousands follow the action live at the Yas Marina Circuit and millions more watch from home on TV. With the opening of the spectacular Formula 1 track on Yas Island in 2009, Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven United Arab Emirates, gained a major attraction. Many more have followed in recent years, and there's no end in sight to the extraordinary projects underway, nearing completion, or planned for the future.

As long as oil flows and money is plentiful, there appear to be no limits to imagination. Bigger, faster, further is the motto in this Emirate's capital. Yet, outside its gates, an age-old tradition continues to thrive, attracting hundreds of spectators weekly. It's equally spectacular but less deafening: Camel racing features the sound of hooves instead of roaring engines.

The Bedouin national sport is more than a mere pastime: It serves as an important link between the future and the Bedouin way of life from the past. Notably, this past isn't so distant. It wasn't until the 1970s, with the discovery of oil, that the Emirate underwent significant transformation. Where barren desert lay just 50 years ago, today ever more impressive buildings rise into the sky, new malls, theme parks, and museums continuously spring up, and one superlative follows the next in short order.

Money plays no role in this - as evident in the prize money for the owners of the four-legged competitors at the Al Wathba track. Today, the race consists of twelve laps over distances of three or - depending on the camels' ages - eight kilometers on the oval course. The glorious winner of each round is awarded a brand-new, snow-white Range Rover. The luxury cars are lined up next to the Camel Racetrack.

The owners of the animals aren't concerned with the valuable prizes; they must focus on the performance of their four-legged favorites. Equipped with a walkie-talkie, the Emiratis drive their SUVs alongside the racing camels, cheering robustly and loudly for their camel and its colorfully dressed jockey.

The jockey - since the use of child jockeys was banned years ago due to continued human rights criticism - is a small robot. More specifically, it's a remote-controlled machine wrapped in fabric, with an electric screwdriver that swings the crop to drive the animals to peak performance. At speeds up to 31 mph reached by these desert ships in the race, their owners in vehicles must also maintain intense concentration. Round after round, they accompany the racing camels, balancing attention between the track and the animal.

There - the first camel reaches the finish line, with its lower lip hanging and foam at its mouth. Its owner raises their arms in triumph, not because of gaining another Range Rover; they already have three. It's all about fame and honor - as it always has been for the proud Bedouin sons.