Venue
northeast of Riyadh, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia
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King Abdulaziz Camel Festival guide
Camel beauty contests in the Al-Dahna sands.
In short
Travellers curious about Gulf heritage can visit the 11th King Abdulaziz Camel Festival at Al-Sayahid, northeast of Riyadh, expected from early December 2026 to early January 2027; exact dates were not yet out. Beyond the prestigious judging rings there are heritage camps and craft stalls. There is no public transport to the site, so arrange a car or driver.
Saudi Arabia's biggest camel event runs for about a month each winter at Al-Sayahid, in the southern Al-Dahna sands northeast of Riyadh. Owners from across the Gulf and beyond bring their herds for beauty contests that carry real prestige. The 11th edition is expected from early December 2026 to early January 2027. Dates are not out yet.
Past editions stuck to that window. The ninth ran from 1 December 2024 to 3 January 2025, and the tenth closed on 3 January 2026.
Away from the judging rings there are heritage camps and craft stalls to wander. Al-Sayahid has no public transport at all, so arrange a rental car, a taxi hired for the day or an organised tour from the capital.
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Key Facts & Stats:
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Venue: Al-Sayahid
Held: Every year
Type of event: Sporting Events, Cultural Events, Folk Festival
Nearest airport: Riyadh (RUH) · 1 flight route
Currency: Saudi riyal (SAR, ﷼)
Time zone: UTC+3, no daylight saving
Language: Arabic
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
Daily contest schedule and public events
On past form, the 2026 to 2027 festival would open around 1 December and finish in the first days of January. Contest days and public events follow a daily schedule from the organisers, usually confirmed in November.
Beauty contests, crafts and other activities
- Camel beauty contests are the heart of it. Judges look over the animals in front of owners and spectators from around the world.
- Saudi artisans show and sell their crafts, and the Aqilat Museum tells the history of the Arabian Peninsula.
- Hands-on: earlier editions let visitors ride the camels, and some got to try milking.
- Poetry and media: a poetic duel, plus photography and filmmaking competitions pitched at younger audiences.
- At the Cultural Camp, regional dress is on display, and foreign visitors often borrow a costume for a photo.
The Camel Club and the festival's growth
For centuries the camel was transport, food and wealth in Arabia. The festival, run with the Camel Club, keeps that bond in view and has grown into a national event with a theme each year; in 2024 it was "Pride of its People". For the tenth edition the Ministry of Interior went as far as a special passport stamp, issued at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and at land ports in the Eastern Province.
Clothing for sunny days and cold nights
Days in the open desert are sunny. December and January nights can be properly cold. Pack a warm layer and sunglasses, and wear closed shoes that cope with sand. Dress modestly and ask before photographing anyone, women in particular. Weekends are the busiest days, so go midweek if you can.
Combining the festival with Riyadh Season
Most international visitors stay in Riyadh, where Riyadh Season fills the evenings during the festival weeks. Our guide to Saudi Arabia suggests where to head after the camels.
Etiquette and dress
Dress
Modest clothing for men and women: long trousers or a long skirt, covered shoulders. Closed shoes cope better with the sand.
Photographs
Always ask before photographing people, and particularly women. Owners are usually happy to show off a prize camel, but ask them too.
Around the animals
Keep clear of the judging rings and never walk behind a camel. Join camel riding, milking or feeding only where staff are running it.
Visiting as a day trip from Riyadh
Treat it as a day trip. Most international visitors stay in Riyadh, which also leaves evenings free for Riyadh Season events. Al-Sayahid has no public transport, so arrange a rental car, hire a taxi for the day or join an organised tour from the capital.
The site is open desert. Pack sunglasses, a hat, a warm layer for the cold evenings and closed shoes that cope with sand. Weekends bring the biggest crowds, so a weekday visit is calmer. Our Saudi Arabia travel guide can help with the wider trip.
Expected dates for the 11th edition
The festival lasts about a month, usually opening in early December and closing in early January. For the 11th edition, the Camel Club had not released official dates at the time of writing, but if recent years are a guide it should start around 1 December 2026 and finish in the first days of January 2027.
For comparison, the ninth festival was held between 1 December 2024 and 3 January 2025, and the tenth ended on 3 January 2026. The organisers publish a day-by-day programme of contests and public events, so confirm the schedule in November before you book anything.
Why camels matter in Arabian culture
For centuries camels meant transport, food and wealth in Arabia, and this festival, organised with the Camel Club, keeps that bond going. It is now a national event with a fresh theme each year, and in its tenth year the Ministry of Interior even produced a commemorative passport stamp at Riyadh's airport and at Eastern Province land crossings.
Beauty contests are the heart of it, drawing owners from the Gulf and further afield, and a win adds real prestige to a herd. Around them you will find artisans selling crafts, the Aqilat Museum on the history of the peninsula, a poetic duel, and a Cultural Camp where visitors can try regional dress for photos.
Getting there
From Riyadh
Al-Sayahid lies in open desert north-east of the capital, in the southern part of the Al-Dahna sands. Most international visitors base themselves in Riyadh and treat the festival as a day trip.
No public transport
No buses or trains serve the site. Hire a car, book a taxi for the whole day, or join an organised tour from Riyadh.
On site
Expect to walk across sandy ground between the competition areas, the heritage camps and the craft stalls.
Where to stay during the festival
The hotel below, in Riyadh itself, is the nearest one we list to King Abdulaziz Camel Festival. The next date is 1 December 2026. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, since rooms close to the festival are the first to go.
Riyadh
Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$480.00/ night
- Internet – Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
5 Rooms available
Book Now
Weather and what to pack
December days in the Riyadh region are warm and dry, with average highs of about 21 to 22°C. Nights in the desert are cool, with lows around 9 to 11°C, and the temperature has dropped below freezing on rare nights.
The sun is strong in the middle of the day, and the evening chill arrives quickly after sunset.
Worth packing
- A warm jacket for the evening
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
- Closed shoes for sand and dust
- A scarf against wind-blown dust
Flights to Riyadh for King Abdulaziz Camel Festival
The busiest routes into Riyadh (RUH).
Car hire in Riyadh
Airport transfer to King Abdulaziz Camel Festival
Met at arrivals at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and driven door to door to Al-Sayahid.
- King Khalid International Airport (RUH) → Al-Sayahid
Restaurants and food in Saudi Arabia
Places to eat in Saudi Arabia before or after the celebrations.
Maraya Social
Rooftop, Maraya Concert Hall, Ashar Valley, Al Otheeb 43536, AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:Modern EuropeanSharing plates
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
- Bar
Al Basali Seafood
Suq Bab Makkah, Al Balad, Jeddah 22236, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SeafoodHejazi
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
Kuuru
Al Malik Road, Al Khalidiyyah, Jeddah 23422, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:JapanesePeruvian
- Dine-in
- Counter seating
- Bar
Marble
Turki Square, Makkah Al Mukarramah Branch Road, Umm Al Hamam Al Sharqi, Riyadh 12321, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SteakhouseBarbecue
- Dine-in
Najd Village
Al Olaya, King Fahd District, Riyadh 12262, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SaudiNajdi
- Dine-in
- Private room
- Outdoor seating
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Prices & payment
General entry to the festival grounds has been free in recent editions. Some special areas, shows or VIP sections may be ticketed, so check the Camel Club's channels once the programme is out.
General
Camels are judged in categories by colour, such as the dark majaheem and the pale maghateer, and by age. Judges look at the head, neck, hump, posture and lips. Cosmetic tampering such as Botox or fillers is banned and checked with scans, and offending camels are disqualified.
The festival carries some of the largest prize pools of any camel event, running into tens of millions of riyals across all categories. The exact figure changes each edition and is announced by the Camel Club.
Weekends, especially Friday and Saturday afternoons, are the busiest, when families drive out from Riyadh. The final days and award ceremonies also pull large crowds and heavy traffic on the access roads.
Yes. Families and women visit freely, and there are family sections at food areas. Women owners have also competed in dedicated categories in recent editions.
Camel trading takes place around the festival, but buying and transporting an animal is a matter for serious breeders. Visitors are more likely to pick up handicrafts, saddle work, woven goods or camel milk products.
Timing & weather
The King Abdulaziz Foundation (Darah) organised the first two editions in 2016 and 2017. From the third edition in 2018 the Saudi Camel Club took over, gave the festival its current identity and has run it every season since.
Mornings and late afternoons are best for the judging and the light. Evenings bring shows and a busier atmosphere at the heritage village, while the middle of the day is quieter.
Families & accessibility
Children usually love it. Heritage areas have run activities such as camel rides, handicraft demonstrations and traditional games, but keep young children close near the animals and the busy car parks.
Booking
Expect stalls and tents serving Arabic coffee, dates, grilled meat, kabsa and camel milk. Camel meat dishes appear at some outlets for the curious.
Stay & facilities
Yes, the main festival zone has toilets, prayer areas, parking and first aid. Away from the main zone services thin out quickly, so stay within the organised area.
Getting there
The access roads from Riyadh are paved and signposted to the festival. Don't drive off-road onto the dunes without a 4x4 and experience, carry water and fuel up before leaving the city.