CAMELS that have been an integral part of life in the UAE for decades, still play key roles all be it not in transportation but in food, entertainment and more! They are a symbol of Emirati and, for that matter, Gulf heritage and remain intrinsic to the region’s traditions and cultural practices.
Beauty pageants and fashion show extravaganzas are popular, however these pale in compariason to the popularity, preparation, grandeur and the sheer wealth that changes hands for a camel beauty pageant, which is unique to many around the world because of its exclusivity and criteria.
This festival is as a continuation of the efforts of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to support heritage preservation projects, promote and develop heritage festivals, enable camel-owners to sustain the practice of breeding and caring for camels. Prize money for the four camel beauty pageants at the Al Dhafra Festival is approximately $30 million (AED110 million).
Camel’s beauty traits
How does a camel participate in a beauty pageant? You might ask and, what exactly is a pageant judge looking for while trying to determine the beauty of a camel? According to camel-breeders and judges, the beauty features of the camel depend greatly on the head; longer lips and the nose is preferred to be high and curved. The beauty of the contestants increases when they have a longer beard and broader cheeks, including the size, shape and composure of their respective ears, tails and toes.
And it doesn’t end there! The neck of the camel is also a key factor; long necks set forward, provided they are in proportion with the rest of the body, being the preference. The positioning of the camel’s hump, the most important yardstick of its beauty, with a preference for the hump to slope backward, matters a lot. The curve of its legs with an inward curvature is also an important factor
A thorough makeover
As expected from a beauty pageant, participating camels are given a thorough makeover before they are presented to the judges. Breeders go to great lengths to accentuate their animals’ natural qualities. Washed, shaved, combed and styled to ensure they look their best, hair-fixing spray to highlight the thickness of their animals’ mane are also used! To maintain the authenticity of camel breeds and to guard against mistreatment, organisers have in recent years cracked down on more invasive cosmetic enhancements as breeders used botox injections and other forms of ‘tampering’ to enhance the animal’s appearance.
Going beyond beauty
So, are camels just known for their beauty? Not quite! The females ‘ships of the desert’ give us an incredible produce – milk. Camel milk is the closest natural substance to a human mother’s milk. Just like breast milk protects newborn babies from various health issues, camel milk provides numerous health benefits. Fortunately, one can buy ready-todrink camel’s milk in all major supermarkets in the UAE. There is also a variety of camel-milk chocolates available in shopping malls. Founded and owned by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Dubai’s own artisan camel-milk chocolate is now being sold in London’s world-famous department store, Harrods.
Camel milk is also used by Bedouins as a natural cosmetic to bathe in, wash their hair and to protect them from sun. For the beauty-conscious, camel milk is fast becoming a trending ingredient in skincare, for its active properties.
