Tailor Made Holidays in Oman: In the News

Camels leave Oman for beauty contest: 02-04-2008

Oman is a land famous for its camels, and some of its prized animals have made their way to the United Arab Emirates for a rather unusual beauty contest.

About 10,000 camels will meet in Abu Dhabi for a £4.5 million competition, the Omani camels competing against others from Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The purpose of the event is to remind the world of the traditional values of the desert and starts on April 2nd.

Camels will compete in age groups to choose the best animals but the entry criteria are quite specific. Anyone who can prove ownership of a pedigree "ship of the desert" can enter, as long as their camel is free from contagious diseases and does not have any serious defects.

In many countries in the Arab world, including Oman, camels have historically been the main gauge of wealth between families.