Tag: Camel Trek

Dubai, 19 December 2019:  The 6th annual Camel Trek, organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre (HHC), came to a successful conclusion as 18 adventurous camel trekkers, including 9 Emiratis and 9 expats, completed their two-week, 700 km journey across the UAE desert. 

They arrived at their final destination on Wednesday night at the Heritage Village in Global Village, where their family, friends and supporters gave them a warm welcome.

The camel trekkers were also delighted to see His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who waved at them as they made their way to the Global Village. The warm welcome was captured and shared numerous times on social media.

The annual camel caravan, organised by HHC, saw the participation of nine Emiratis, including two young boys aged 7 and 5 years old as well as nine expats and travelers from Germany, France, Britain, China and Albania who have committed themselves to immerse in the local culture.

The convoy, led by Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of the HHC, set off on December 4 for a two-week journey covering around 700 KMs of the vast UAE desert  from the Mender Al Aslab desert area before heading to a pre-arranged route that includes Al Thurawaniah, Al Assab, Al Dhafra Fort, Al Marzoum, Al Shabika, Bugrin, North Razin, Al Haffar, Al Ajban and Saih Al Salam.

“The annual camel trek has become very popular among Emiratis and expats, especially among those who love to have a unique desert experience and learn the old ways of the Bedouins. The journey also connects them with nature, in addition to developing ties of friendship and cooperation among the participants,” Bin Dalmook said.

A first-time participant, German expat Linda Krockenberger, 28, said the Camel Trek gave her a better and warmer understanding of the Emirati culture. “The experience I had in desert was really very memorable. Seeing he undulating desert landscaper of the UAE was mesmerizing. Now, I will be going back to the city and I will definitely miss the sand dunes, would love to the trek again. It also made me feel that I want to have a family rather than being alone” she said. 

“But the memories and bonding we created – with participants coming from various cultures and parts of the world – will be treasured for a lifetime,” she added.

 Japanese-French traveler Anna Aiko, 40, who has been to several countries documenting local cultures, said that the end of the journey was just the beginning of more adventures to come.  “I will be sharing with the world what I have seen and experienced in the UAE,” she added.

Around 700 people of various nationalities and abilities applied to join in this year’s camel trek. Selected applicants underwent vigorous training, where they learned various tasks for the journey, including how to set up tents and feed the camels. 

The HHC has also ensured all the necessary logistics for the entire trek, including the camels, tents, food and other provisions, and a medical team on standby.

The annual Camel Trek, which usually takes place in January, has kicked off early this time, coming on the heels of the celebration of the UAE National Day.

Dubai, 5 December 2019: The 6th edition of the annual Camel Trek, organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC), kicked off to a strong start today with the participation of 11 people from 6 countries.

The camel trekkers, led by HE Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of HHC, set off from (Mender Al-Aslan) desert before heading to a pre-arranged route in the UAE desert that includes Al-Thurawaniah, Al-Assab, Al-Dhafra Fort, Al-Marzoum, Al-Shabika, Bugrin, North Razin, Al-Haffar, Al-Ajban and Saih Al-Salam until the convoy lands at the Heritage Village of Dubai Global Village.

The camel voyage will take 14 days, covering at least 65 kilometers of the vast UAE desert per day, depending on weather conditions.

The annual camel trek, which usually starts in January, has kicked off early this edition, in celebration of the country’s National Day. 

Hind bin Demaithan Al Qemzi, HHC Director of Events, said: “We are proud to launch the trip early. This year’s edition of camel trek is an extension of the 48th National Day celebration. It is a precious occasion for all of us and is in line with the objectives of the HHC to celebrate our cultural heritage.”

The annual camel trek has become very popular among Emiratis and expats, especially among those who love to have a unique desert experience and learn the old ways of the Bedouins. The journey also connects them with nature, in addition to developing ties of friendship and cooperation among the participants.

Preparations and participants

The 11 trekkers are from the UAE, Germany, France, Britain, China and Albania, selected from among 700 applicants. They underwent a rigorous training program at Al Nakhra camel farm in Dubai and also passed all the exams required to participate in the trip.

Al Quemzi also revealed that this year’s edition has attracted the participation of more Emiratis and surprisingly two children (with their fathers). Its an new trial after which, we aspire that in the future, the camel trek will see the participation of more Emirati children with their parents, she added. 

All the participants have undergone intensive training at Al Nakhra camel farm in Dubai before the actual trek. “Each participant has to be familiar with the camel. There will be many challenges that’s why it is very important to learn the different tasks during the entire journey, including how to set up tents and feed the camels,” Al Qemzi explained

The HHC, meanwhile, has ensured all the necessary logistics for the entire trek, including the camels, tents, food and other provisions, and a medical team on standby.

Emirati Mariam Mohammed said: “I heard about the camel trek three years ago and I had the idea of ??joining the caravan since then but I only had the opportunity to participate this year. I’m very proud of my heritage and I look forward to learn more about desert life and how our ancestors lived in the past.”

The route

The convoy in the last trek has traveled 700 kilometers in 14 days. The trekkers are expected to conclude their journey on December 19 at the Heritage Village of Global Village in Dubai.

Dubai, November 16, 2019: Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center has announced the date of the sixth edition of its annual ‘Camel Trek’. An early start this year, the trek is to depart on December 4, 2019, from Liwa, and across the bewildered sand dunes and desert landforms to reach to Dubai within a timeframe of around 14 days. 

Since its inception, the Camel Trek attracted adventure lovers from all walks of life, representing different countries and nationalities. From this event’s humble beginning, the way was paved for hundreds of willing participants. Only last year, the number of registrants exceeded 1000 people. With the launch of the sixth edition at Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2019, held last October, the number of registrants exceeded 700 people. 

In the past years, the door was open for registrants to come and practice at the dedicated camel farm in Dubai, based on a schedule of timings. “Endurance, commitment and physical fitness, are key to selecting and shortlisting the trek’s participants, in addition to availing new opportunities to new joiners”, said Hind Bin Demaithan Al Qemzi, Director of Events at HHC.    

“We have shortlisted the most apt participants. They were from both genders and represented countries including UAE, France, Germany, Albania, UK, and we also have an Emirati woman for the first time on this annual trek”, assured Hind. 

Ready and set to depart from Liwa desert on December 4, the journey of endurance is about to sail across the desert sands on camel backs, to encounter new challenges and thrilling adventures. Safety and security measures are in place to ensure an anodyne journey.

The CEO of HHC, HE Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook, will lead the trek. He has been a regular participant and the source of Emirati heritage, since the trek’s early editions.  

New Records

The last edition of the Camel Trek has set a new record. The trekkers managed to travel 700 kilometers on camel backs, travelling 70 kilometers for 10 hours per day. This is a hard to achieve record. 

“We call them desert knights, but they are normal individuals who had the audacity to face this challenge of resilience, patience and will. They all had one common denominator of living a past time experience and learn about our Emirati heritage”, concluded Hind.

Dubai, 19 November 2018:  The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) has announced the schedule of Fazza Championships for season 2018-2019.

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the Fazza Championships are aimed at preserving the cultural heritage of the UAE and inspiring the youth to compete and achieve honours while safeguarding and promoting the country’s national identity.

The season qualifiers for Fazza Championship for Youlah will take place on Thursday and Friday, November 22 and 23, at Al Meydan Fort, Heritage Village at Dubai Global Village, and the first round of the competition will start on December 7. Youlah is a heritage sport where participants spin a rifle to the rhythmic beat of Emirati traditional melodies.

To mark the beginning of the falconry season, the second edition of the Maktoum Al Sharqi Falconry Championship – Telwah in Fujairah will be held from December 6 to 8 while the Fazza Championship for Falconry-Telwah will start on January 2 and will continue until January 16 at Al Ruwayyah desert area. The Fakhr Al-Ajyal Championship for Falconry-Telwah will take place from February 1–16, 2019 also in Al Ruwayyah while the third edition of Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi Championship is on January 26, 2019 in Ajman.

Qualifying rounds for the 12th Saluki Championship will be held from January 28-30 at Al Marmoum area while the main tournament will be held over two days from February 18–19, also in the same area.

Training sessions for Fazza Championship for Shooting – Saktoun Rifle, open to Emiratis, UAE residents and GCC nationals, will take place from March 17–19, 2019 at the Dubai Police shooting field in Ruwayyah area. This will be followed by the Fazza Open Championships for Shooting (Saktoun) for males and females from March 20–23 and the Fazza Championships for Shooting (Saktoun) for Locals from March 28–30.

Pre-tournament training sessions for the Fazza Championship for Freediving will be held from March 4–6, 2019 at the Hamdan Sports Complex with the main tournament taking place from March 7–9 at the same venue.

The 4th edition of the National Day Camel Marathon, organized by the HHC in cooperation with Dubai Camel Racing Club, will take place on February 8, 2019 to coincide with H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Pure-Bred Arabian Camels Races Festival. The camel marathon will take place at Al Marmoom race track and the change in schedule of the competition which was previously held in December was aimed at giving the riders and their camels more adequate time to prepare for the very competitive and one-of-its-kind heritage marathon.

As in the previous years, the announcement of the Fazza Championships is highly anticipated by the participants who train and register in these tournaments, with valuable prizes awaiting the winners.

Ms. Souad Ibrahim Darwish, Director of Championships at HHC, said: “The Fazza Championships were established under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. For the past 18 years, it has continued to this day to occupy its top position at the local and international levels.”

“We are proud to organize these high-profile championships, which have a local character that translates the vision of His Highness to promote national identity, transfer the social heritage to the young generation, and highlight the love for the motherland.

Moreover, this year’s tournament management has set up a range of additional activities for youth including diving, shooting and Youlah to motivate and encourage them to train and realize their dreams of participating in major Fazza tournaments. The Fazza Youlah Championship for Schools will also be held in coordination with the Ministry of Education.

The official sponsors of the Fazza Championships are Al Tayer Motors, Land Rover, Dubai Global Village and Al Oula Radio.

Dubai, 15 September 2018:  The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) has announced that registration for the 5th edition of the annual Camel Trek, which will take place from January 16 – 25, 2019, is now open.

“The trek which is open to all nationalities will cover a total distance of around 500km, traversing through the vast expanse of UAE desert, giving the participants a perfect opportunity to learn the rich Emirati culture and old ways of the Bedouins,” said Hind bin Demaithan Al Qemzi, HHC Director of Events, during a briefing held recently at the Youth Hub at Boulevard Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

Ms. Al Qemzi explained that the HHC will provide all the necessary logistics for the entire trek, including the camels, tents, food and other provisions, and a medical team on standby.

“No prior experience is required but participants must undergo a training program at our camel farm in Al Nakhra, off the Dubai-Al Ain road,” Ms. Al Quemzi underlined.

“There will be many challenges that’s why it is very important, especially for the first-timers, to learn the different tasks at the camp. They will know how to take care of their own camel, saddle, tether and feed it,” she added.

Ms. Al Quemzi also emphasised that participants will also be shortlisted based on the training they have received as it is important for them to finish the entire 11-day desert trek.

Training at the Al Nakhra camel farm will be held weekly on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from 5pm until 8pm, and the participants can choose the most appropriate dates for them or all of the days if they prefer.

Previous participants – coming from various nationalities, including Europeans, Arabs and Asians – have avowed of the wonderful things and memories they had experienced in the desert.

Those who would like to join the 5th edition of the Camel Trek, organised by the HHC, can send email to [email protected] with the subject: Camel Trek 2019.

DUBAI, 28th January 2018: There was a sense of triumph as the participants in the fourth edition of the ‘Camel Trek’ organized by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) returned after successfully completing the longest journey across the desert of the UAE which began from ‘Empty Quarter’ in Abu Dhabi on 17^th January, 2018 and ended at Global Village in Dubai on Saturday 27^th January.

The camel caravan comprising 15 participants, including six women, from diverse cultures arrived majestically just after dusk in an orderly manner to the amazement of onlookers and were welcomed like heroes during the special ceremony held at the Heritage Village.

The trekkers spent 11 days in the desert travelling over 500 kilometres just like how people traversed on the ‘ships of the desert’ more than 70 years ago and eagerly related their experiences after tracing back the footsteps of the past and living in co-existence with other nationalities.

Longest

His Excellency Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook, CEO of HHC, said: “This is the longest version of our annual ‘Camel Trek’. There were many challenges, but we were able to follow the map of the trek that was prepared after embarking on pre-exploratory excursions to chart our route. We must face difficulties to revive a culture that benefits the participants who wanted to experience life in the past. For the first time, we travelled more than 63 kilometers on the camel’s back in one day. This distance is a record because today it is not easy to achieve.”

“This is a rare experience that enhances the nature of belonging and adds a culture of recognition and coexistence with other nationalities. We look forward to opening the doors to a larger number of citizens in the future to benefit from this meaningful experience and we hope that other specialized institutions in the revival of heritage will organize such cultural treks’” he added.

Cultural
The Argentinean Ambassador to the country, Fernando de Martini, who joined the ‘Camel Trek’ during the last four days, said: “The journey I experienced for the first time in my life embodied my beliefs that human and cultural similarities between the two nations: Argentine and the UAE. I joined the trip after hearing about it because I believe that the best way to know about the cultural dimension of any country is to be part of its literary, heritage and history. I am happy to know the authentic Emirati personality through the ‘Camel Trek’ leader and other participants representing many countries.”

Popular

Hind Bin Demaithan Al Qemzi, Director of Events at HHC, welcomed the participants in this annual journey which has become popular and thanked all the participants whom she considered to be partners in the march that promotes national identity and contributes to the dissemination of UAE heritage.

The camel caravan comprising participants from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, United Kingdom, France, Algeria, Syria, Pakistan, Malaysia, Ukraine and Argentina, were treated to an exhibition of traditional dances by an Emirati dance troupe and as part of a time-honoured tradition, saffron was put on the faces of camels.

The ‘Desert Knights’ of the 2018 ‘Camel Trek’ were profuse in praise of the HHC for organizing this annual event which has given them a rare opportunity to embrace the unique culture and beautiful landscape of the UAE and HE Bin Dalmook for being a guiding inspiration during their challenging journey especially through some of the most rugged terrain.

Vacation

“It was amazing… unbelievable… the best vacation in my life,” exclaimed 30-year-old Ukrainian Mila Kladova who cancelled her vacation to Italy to join the ‘Camel Trek’ for the first time.

“Firstly I want to thank the organizers HHC and our leader Abdullah Hamdan (Bin Dalmook). He is an unbelievable person. When we were kind of weak, he gave us inspiration,” said Mila who has become a stronger as an individual after the experience.

“By nature we as women are weak but after this trip I believe whatever goal I have in mind, I can achieve it,” said Mila who was amazed by the ‘Empty Quarter’.

“Oh my goodness it was unbelievable. I saw dunes about 300 meters high. The sunset and sunrise was unbelievable. I just enjoyed each day, each moment,” said Mila who calls herself a ‘Ukrainian Bedouin’.

Dunes

Charlotte Sarrazin was “just tired” after completing her third successive ‘Camel Trek’ but vowed to return next year as well.

“The dunes and landscape were completely different. We didn’t see anything for four days. We just saw a straight line when we trekked along the UAE-Saudi Arabia border. When I will look at the map now, I can’t imagine that we crossed all of this,” said Charlotte who lauded the leadership given by HE Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook.

“Every year we had different leaders. This year with Abdullah Hamdan (Bin Dalmook) it was challenging and interesting. He really trusted us and made us rely on ourselves. He asked us to do some formations with the camels. We did much more kilometers, there were much more stories and we crossed over 500 kilometers easily,” said Charlotte.

Tough

Her French compatriot Anne-Laure Laine, also completing the ‘Camel Trek’ for the third year, said it was tougher than before.

“It was tougher because there were more long distances and new places,” she said enjoying the beauty of the ‘Empty Quarter’.

“The landscape is the same but it was beautiful. It is very satisfying to see all the distance we did with the camel,” said Anne who was also pleased to ride her camel alone for the first time on the trek.

City

Nicola Mather, a British mother of two teenaged children, enjoyed every moment of the extraordinary trek despite the physical challenges.

“There were lots of physical challenges for everybody irrespective of age. Every morning getting up with the tiredness in the body which has not recovered from the day before and you have to ride another 50 kilometers and more,” said Nicola who felt the ‘Empty Quarter’ did not pose as much a challenge as returning to the city.

“One of the most challenging bits was coming back to Global Village with all the lights and noise. Camels really don’t like that. In all the other parts of UAE it was just beautiful, the natural environment for the camels,” said Nicola who treasures many wonderful memories of her maiden ‘Camel Trek’.

“I really enjoyed the group that I was with. We had a great bunch of people and we generally got on extremely well. I loved sitting around the camp fire at nights. I loved the satisfaction of having achieved 50 kilometers a day on a camel. I liked the peace and quiet of the desert. I loved the stars and hearing all the stories from Abdullah Hamdan (Bin Dalmook) who organized this trip and related stories about life 70 years ago when people rode camels every day before cars,” she said.

Route

Malaysian Muhamad Al Fansouri said it was his second time but on a different route.

“The challenge we faced was on day three of the trek when we had to trot almost 70 kilometers non-stop. What I learnt is basically to explore UAE from the other part. Last time we reached the Oman border this time the southern part of UAE. It is not easy to get riding a camel to explore the UAE,” he said.

Fun

Abdullah Malek, a 21-year-old medical student, said “it was really a great experience” after taking part in the ‘Camel Trek’ for the first time.

“It was as much tiring but so much fun. We learnt a lot of new skills. We learnt how to ride camels,” said Malek who wanted to explore new cultures.

“We learnt how to deal with camels, ride camels, how to survive in the desert. We wouldn’t have learnt other than by actually living the moment and living in the desert and trying to figure out how to actually get through the day in the desert. If I had the chance I would do it every single year,” said Abdullah who said going through the ‘Empty Quarter’ was “certainly a different experience”.

Ancestors

Algerian Fatima Khiran who famously switched off her mobile during her days on the ‘Camel Trek’ seriously wants to live the way her ancestors in the desert.

“It was fantastic. Only challenge we faced is the weather. Not only the cold weather in the morning but heat in the afternoon. It was exhausting as any trip but we really enjoyed. Ofcourse I would do it again,” said the 25-year-old who managed to live the way her grandparents did.

“Even though I had basic knowledge about camel I learnt a lot on this ‘Camel Trek’. How to handle them in the middle of nowhere, how to live without any technology and without what you are living now seriously,” said Fatima who is in love with the nature after enjoying its beauty in the ‘Empty Quarter’.

“It’s nice. You really can see the sky at night and in the day also. I will do it again and again. I want to stop living the modern-day life and turn back the clock,” said Fatima, a descendant from Bedouin origins.

“Learning about different cultures and nationalities, cooperating with the rest of the group, and training them based on my camel riding experience, I also learned from them,” said Ahmed Al Kalbani. “I hope to return and participate in the upcoming editions. I will miss all the participants and this trek will last in memory for a long time.”

Notes to editors:

Camel Caravan

The riders are trained to travel within the camel train or caravan, to move in a single line from one place to another according to the route plan which is prepared in advance by a competent team and the leader of the caravan, and have to satisfy certain criteria that would make them eligible to participate in the arduous trek.

A camel train or caravan is a series of camels carrying passengers and/or goods on a regular or semi-regular service between points. Although they rarely travelled faster than the walking speed of a man, camels’ ability to withstand harsh conditions made them ideal for communication and trade in the desert areas of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for centuries, though they could only travel on routes with sufficient sources of food and water.

DUBAI, 24^th January 2018: In a gesture that strengthens the bonds of cultural cooperation between countries, the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Fernando De Martini joined on Tuesday 23^rd January, the trekkers in the fourth edition of the ‘Camel Trek’ organized by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC).

The ‘Camel Trek’, an extraordinary adventure in the desert that requires great endurance by individuals is organized annually by HHC to revive the social and cultural heritage of the UAE, this year it began from the ‘Empty Quarter’ area in Abu Dhabi on 17th January and covers a distance of 500 kilometers.

Ambassador Fernando De Martini, who joined the convoy on Tuesday night stayed overnight in the camp before embarking with the ‘Camel Trek’ on his own camel today, Wednesday.

Nature

The Argentine Ambassador to the UAE said he was honored to join the ‘Camel Trek’ although he hardly had any experience of riding camels.

“I appreciate very much HHC’s welcoming me to participate. I read about this heritage trip in the newspapers during the weekend and decided to join it. I called the HHC and I was welcomed to go into the desert to join the trekkers on their journey,” said His Excellency Fernando De Martini.

Asked about his experience on the ‘Camel Trek’, the Argentine Ambassador said: “My experience of riding a camel before this was for half an hour maximum. My first day in the ‘Camel Trek’ was okay. We started at 9 in the morning. I will tell how I am when it is over.”

His Excellency Fernando De Martini revealed that his main aim to join the ‘Camel Trek’ was to experience the “silence of the desert” and the Emirati culture.

“The silence of desert is very special. The important thing is United Arab Emirates and Argentina, we have many things in common between us. But Emirati people are part of the desert. So this trek shows what people did before which is part of Emirati tradition. And tradition is the soul of all the people. It (Camel Trek) is good way to understand a little more and to be closer to the (Emirati) culture,” said Fernando De Martini, Argentina’s Ambassador to the country.

Challenges

Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook, Chief Executive Officer at HHC, welcomed the participation of Argentinian Ambassador to the UAE His Excellency Fernando de Martini in the ‘Camel Trek’. “We welcome the Ambassador of Argentina and appreciate his keen interest in the ‘Camel Trek’ where the participants travel in a camel caravan in the desert as our ancestors did in the past. This trek is considered an interaction between people in terms of adapting to a different environment for the purpose of acquaintance, communication and cultural interaction,” he said.

“All these events came under the directives of His Highness the Crown Prince of Dubai, to prevent the cultural heritage of the country from becoming extinct and revive it to new generations. The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center will continue to seek and create similar events. The beauty of camel riding dates back more than 70 years and the HHC is pleased to revive this experience away from cars and technology. We were able to begin the last quarter of the trek as planned since we covered 50 kilometers each day. Despite the difficulties and challenges facing the camel caravan from rough roads and barbed wire, yesterday we trekked a distance of 62 km in 9 hours which is a great achievement,” he said.

Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook expressed the happiness of everyone at the Ambassador joining the camel caravan although the journey is nearing completion and hoped he would participate in the full distance of the ‘Camel Trek’ next year.

According to the schedule of the ‘Camel Trek’ which began from the desert area of the ‘Empty Quarter’ in Abu Dhabi on 17th January 2018, the camel caravan will return to Dubai on the afternoon of Saturday 27^th January and reach the Heritage Village in Global Village,.

A special traditional ceremony will be held at the Heritage Village on the occasion of the arrival of the camel caravan and the invitation is open to all to see the trekkers being received by families and friends after an 11-day journey away from home.

 

DUBAI, 18th January 2018: A caravan of camel riders from diverse cultures embarked for the first time from the ‘Empty Quarter’ in Abu Dhabi, a harsh desert area in the far south of the UAE yesterday (17^th January 2018) morning, in their journey to live an extraordinary experience of real Emirati heritage.

The 15 participants in the fourth edition of the ‘Camel Trek’ received training in camel riding by the organizers Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC), before embarking on what has become the flagship event in HHC’s annual program. The camel caravan camped overnight in the Western region of Abu Dhabi on Tuesday before setting off across the world’s largest uninterrupted sand mass.

Welcoming the participants at the launch of the fourth annual ‘Camel Trek’, Hind Bin Demaithan Al Qemzi, Director of Events at HHC, dubbed them ‘Desert Knights’, for their determination to undergo a rare experience that requires great composure, endurance and patience.

“The ‘Camel Trek’ continues to explore the desert trails just like how people did in the past. In this edition, however, the ‘Camel Trek’ is taken to a new level compared to previous years. Past editions were considered integral to test ways and means for future treks. The past versions were planned alongside cities and populated villages and thus close to the areas of supplies necessary for the trip, whether it be electricity, water or food supply. This year’s trip, is from ‘Rub Al Khali’ or the so-called ‘Empty Quarter’, which is known in history for its harshness and its distinct desert environment that is devoid of any life,” said Hind Bin Demaithan Al Qemzi.

Caravan

The camel caravan will travel about 200 kilometers through the ‘Empty Quarter’ in the southern part of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates.

“This is the first trip of its kind in the region because it will cut across areas that were rarely travelled by camel caravans in the past due to the high sand dunes of up to 300 meters in addition to some rugged terrain. However, the journey has been undertaken after careful study and planning for several weeks to chart the camel caravan route,” she said.

“In order to ensure the safety of the participants, we have taken all necessary measures, including the appointment of a ‘paramedic’ to provide medical services and first aid if necessary, and the expertise of several desert navigational experts, including the Chief Executive Officer at HHC, Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook. We have used their extensive experience in identifying the trails and have provided all equipment and supplies sufficient to enable the caravan to pass through the ‘Empty Quarter’ and to go to the areas near the villages,” added Hind Bin Demaithan Al Qemzi.

The fourth edition of the ‘Camel Trek’, organized by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, saw 15 participants, including 6 women and 9 men, from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, United Kingdom, France, Algeria, Syria, Pakistan, Malaysia and Ukraine. One of the women participating in the 2018 ‘Camel Trek’ is Anna Dudzinska from Polish media, a last-minute entrant who aims to record her journey through the picturesque desert.

Route

The camel caravan which began in Liwa will cover an estimated daily distance of 50 kilometers returning to the Heritage Village at Global Village in Dubai on January 26^th, a day ahead of the earlier schedule since the participants travelled to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to get familiar with the environment and conditions.

Mobile off

One of the participants, Fatima Khirani, a 25-year-old Algerian who has been in Dubai for two years, said she had decided to get rid of her mobile phone during the 11-day trip. “I want to live this heritage journey in full detail. I left an emergency number at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center if my family needed to communicate with me, but I did not want to waste my time on the phone on this trip and instead fully enjoy HHC’s hospitality and heritage,” said Fatima who was driven to join this ‘Camel Trek’ because of her love for camels and the desert.

Bedouin

She explained that her colleagues encouraged her to participate because she is fond of adventure in the various countries she visits. Her family in Algeria also encouraged her to participate because she descended from Bedouin origins, although she lives in the sophisticated city of Oran. “Our ancestors lived a nomadic life. This is an opportunity for our present generation to live this life. I know how to ride camels, but this is the first time I have been on a journey that extends so many days,” said Fatima, who is employed in Dubai as a Real Estate consultant.

“We thank the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center for organizing this ‘Camel Trek’ and we look forward to experience a lot of beautiful things in the coming days,” she said.

Italy vacation

Mila Kladova from Ukraine cancelled her vacation in Italy to spend time in the desert by joining the ‘Camel Trek’.

“My colleague told me about the trek and that was about the time I was going to spend my annual holiday in Italy. I decided to cancel my vacation in Italy and preferred to participate in the Camel Trek,” said the 30-year-old Ukrainian, who has been in Dubai for two years. “It seems strange to my friends, but when I tell them what I do here and how I live every day, they see how lucky I am to have this adventure.”

Birthday

Mila revealed that the first day of camel riding training here coincided with her birthday. “It was the most beautiful gift on my birthday. Trying this experience on my first day in the New Year has given me more strength in my life. I have never seen or tried to deal with camels. This trip gives me the opportunity to learn a lot about camels and the nature of heritage life here,” she said.

Mila, who works for a real estate development company in Dubai, said this ‘Camel Trek’ opens wide horizons for her to learn new things. She also expressed her desire to experience the Emirati hospitality and culture.

Notes to editors:

Camel Caravan

The riders are trained to travel within the camel train or caravan, to move in a single line from one place to another according to the route plan which is prepared in advance by a competent team and the leader of the caravan, and have to satisfy certain criteria that would make them eligible to participate in the arduous trek.

A camel train or caravan is a series of camels carrying passengers and/or goods on a regular or semi-regular service between points. Although they rarely travelled faster than the walking speed of a man, camels’ ability to withstand harsh conditions made them ideal for communication and trade in the desert areas of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for centuries, though they could only travel on routes with sufficient sources of food and water.

DUBAI, 11th January 2018: The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) announced that the 2018 edition of the ‘Camel Trek’ in the UAE will see 15 participants from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, United Kingdom, France, Algeria, Syria, Pakistan, Malaysia and Ukraine.

Organized and supervised by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, the fourth edition of the ‘Camel Trek’ in the UAE will start on January 17th, 2018 and continue for 11 days culminating at the Heritage Village of Global Village in Dubai on January 27th. The marathon expedition will cover a distance of about 500 km crossing a number of desert areas in the UAE on a journey of a lifetime.

Hind Bin Demaithan Al Qemzi, Director of Events Management at HHC, welcomed all participants in this annual journey which has become very popular among men and women. The group of five women representing France, Algeria, UK and Ukraine as well as the young men who have confirmed their participation started training since the beginning of December last year.

Civilization

“The aim of the ‘Camel Trek’ is to reflect the civilization of the United Arab Emirates through an integrated journey through the desert sands. It is about life in the past based on the foundations of cooperation and the distribution of tasks responsibly between individuals to work in the camp,” she said.

“The HHC provides tents, food and other equipment necessary to make the experience memorable by all standards for the participants, including motivating the individual’s ability to endure and persevere in a spirit of co-existence with different nationalities representing diverse cultures, while working as a team,” she added.

Hind Bin Demaithan Al Qemzi said this year’s expedition will start from Liwa in the Western region to commemorate the ‘Year of Zayed’.

“In celebration of the ‘Year of Zayed’ and in celebration of the ‘Spirit of the Union’ and the social principles and foundations established by Sheikh Zayed in the hearts of Emiratis and his love for preserving the heritage of the UAE and the promotion of national identity, all of which are within HHC’s objectives, the caravan will start from Liwa in the Western region of Abu Dhabi. The journey may be more challenging than in previous years. The participants are being rained by professionals in order to get ready for living this experience of the past, crossing the sand dunes to Dubai,” she said.

Excitement

The participants could not conceal their excitement at being selected to join the 2018 ‘Camel Trek’ in the UAE when some of them were interviewed by local and international media while going through training in Al Nakhra camel farm off Dubai-Al Ain Road on Wednesday.

Everyone is driven by their adventurous zeal to experience the Emirati culture and beauty of the UAE during the 2018 ‘Camel Trek’.

“I’m genuinely interested in the history of the UAE. I had followed this trek for the last four years through newspaper articles. Now my children are older and studying abroad so I finally had the opportunity to join the trek. I didn’t think they would choose me because I’m much older than others in the group,” said Nicola Mather, a mother of two, and who has been in the UAE since 2004.

“2018 is a very special year in the UAE (Year of Zayed). I’m really looking forward to seeing the beauty of the UAE and also to understand how people lived here 50 years ago. What they have achieved and the challenges and difficulties they faced,” said Nicola who went on a camel trip in Oman with her husband long time ago.

Learning

“I’m actually learning to ride camels now. I’ve been training for just over a month and the training is very important because camels are actually quite complicated creatures and quite difficult to ride,” said Nicola who has been riding horses as a child.

“I grew up riding horses. It’s very different. There is less control with camels because we have one rope not two reins; no saddle and stirrups. So far I haven’t fallen off. Every day I think this might be my day to fall,” quipped Nicola who described the training team as excellent. “I am absolutely in awe of his skills and courage. He has given me a lot of confidence.”

Nicola said this trip is different for everybody. “Personally the challenge is courage and endurance. I’ve been given a beautiful camel to ride. I’m really grateful for this opportunity. It is a very generous gesture,” said Nicola who has named her male camel Lawrence.

Experience

For Mila Kladova from Ukraine, everything will be a totally new experience.

“It’s my first experience. I have been living here for two years. Being Ukrainian everything is new for me here. I really wanted to try to be close to this culture. I grabbed this opportunity to be here and to do it like people before,” said Mila who works as a developer.

She even cancelled her vacation when she heard about this ‘Camel Trek’.

“It was amazing. I was planning my vacation to Europe when one of my friends called me and said there is some opportunity at HHC. I just applied and am so excited to get selected,” said Mila, 30, who loves swimming, basketball and tennis.

Birthday

She recalled with delight about riding a camel during on her birthday on December 28.

“My first training here it was a kind of gift for me. I came here to celebrate my birthday. No one knew about it. I kept it silent but inside I was so happy. It was great my first experience being on a camel. I was so emotional. It was unbelievable,” said Mila who has named her camel Sugar.

“It’s amazing because what I found here is some of the words are similar in Emirati and Ukraine. I found one same word ‘sukr’ which means sugar. I chose it as my camel name because he is so sweet,” said Mila who speaks with her camel in Arabic.

“It will be easier for me. It seems to me he can understand some Arabic when I tell him Masha Allah, Yallah, my Jameeullah. I can understand basic words. I’m trying my best because I’m here for two years. It’s kind of respect to this country when you can speak a little bit basic words because this country gave me a lot of opportunities,” she said with gratitude.

Instagram

Algerian Fatima Khirani, 25, driven by her love of camels and desert successfully applied through Instagram on the HHC website.

“I will be relaxed away from the city lifestyle. I will enjoy it because I will be nearby nature. I will also have a chance to meet people from different cultural background and share our experiences together,” said Fatima who has been employed in the Real Estate in Dubai for the last two years.

“I love camels and love the desert. I have learned how to feed them carrots and apple,” said Fatima, whose passion is horse riding, swimming and scuba diving.

Third year

Charlotte Sarrazin will be taking part in the ‘Camel Trek’ in the UAE for the third consecutive year, riding her own camel for the first time.

“Although this year’s trek was on my agenda, but I was not sure to do it because I opened a new restaurant in Abu Dhabi. I always wanted to do with my camel one day. I started training a little bit in summer and then stopped because of work. This was taking me a lot of time but they allowed me to do it,” said Charlotte who will be atop her eight-year-old former racing camel named ‘Zabi’ or gazelle.

“This is my first time with her and first time for her on this kind of trip. The challenge is huge because I’m not experienced enough to lead her. She is very strong because she has been doing racing,” said Charlotte who will be sharing her experience with others during the trek.

“I’ve learnt that every trip is different. This is why I’m happy to do it every year. Every route is different. The desert changes as well. People are different. You learn something new,” said Charlotte, 37, who wants members of the caravan to live the experience and disconnect from the world.

“You never disconnect in UAE. This trip is the only way where you can actually take your time to be in UAE and to disconnect with your work life and feel you are on holiday and doing something special,” she said.

Returning

Also returning will be Malaysian Muhamad Fansouri who took part in the 2016 ‘Camel Trek’.

“It’s his passion. My two and half year old daughter Fahima also loves camels,” said Muhamad’s wife Felisa.

“The main reason to come back is to rejuvenate the local culture. This time I think the weather will be the challenge and the route is longer,” said Muhamad who recalls going into the open desert with no view all around except sand.

Enthusiasts

The 2017 ‘Camel Trek’ comprised 13 camel riding enthusiasts from Oman, United States, Egypt, France, United Kingdom and the UAE, including five women. They were overwhelmed by the amazing once-in-a-lifetime journey where they travelled back in time and experienced the culture and tradition of the UAE.

Every year, the HHC appoints a group of camel riding professionals to train the participants in the ‘Camel Trek’. Since safety is paramount, the organizers HHC will provide back-up vehicles in case someone falls ill or for any emergency during the ‘Camel Trek’ where the riders will cover some 50 kilometers riding for about eight hours a day.

Caravan

The riders are trained to travel within the camel train or caravan, to move in a single line from one place to another according to the route plan which is prepared in advance by a competent team and the leader of the caravan, and have to satisfy certain criteria that would make them eligible to participate in the arduous trek.

A camel train or caravan is a series of camels carrying passengers and/or goods on a regular or semi-regular service between points. Although they rarely travelled faster than the walking speed of a man, camels’ ability to withstand harsh conditions made them ideal for communication and trade in the desert areas of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for centuries, though they could only travel on routes with sufficient sources of food and water.

 

DUBAI, 27th December 2017: The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) announced that training has begun for the 2018 edition of the ‘Camel Trek’ to prepare a group of riders to follow the trail of people who traversed the pristine land of the UAE on camel backs.

Organized and supervised by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, the fourth edition of the ‘Camel Trek’ will take place from January 17th, 2018 for 11 days until January 27th. The marathon expedition will cover a distance of about 500 km on crossing a number of desert areas in the UAE.

There has been a huge amount of interest to participate in the ‘Camel Trek’ since HHC has announced the preps through the social media channels, including requests from riders who took part in previous editions of the event.

Registration

Hind Bin Demaithan Al Qemzi, Director of Events at HHC, said the significant increase in the number of registrations for the ‘Camel Trek’ is a reflection of the successful organization of this expedition in the past three years and the passion for adventure in the desert, oblivious of life in the city away from the outside world.

“We were amazed by the number of participants who have registered or have been making inquiries from HHC about the 2018 ‘Camel Trek’. We have so many people representing many countries around the world. This unique journey across the desert represents not only a physical retreat, but introducing the Emirati culture and traditions to participating expats. Nonetheless, Emiratis and expats undergo a rare experience by travelling on a camel for 11 days and camping overnight in the desert. It is an education in patience, courage and endurance,” said Hind Bin Demaithan affirming HHC’s commitment to preserve the heritage of the UAE through events such as the ‘Camel Trek’.

Amazing

The ‘Camel Trek’ last year comprised 13 camel riding enthusiasts from Oman, United States, Egypt, France, United Kingdom and the UAE, including five women. They were overwhelmed by the amazing once-in-a-lifetime journey where they travelled back in time and experienced the culture and tradition of the UAE. “We learned the true culture of this land is about sharing, about hospitality, knowledge, nature, plants, stars and the whole universe. What we saw in last seven days was like being transformed into another planet,” said one of the trekkers.

Every year, HHC appoints a group of camel riding professionals to train the participants on camel riding. Since safety is paramount, HHC will provide back-up vehicles in case of any emergency during the ‘Camel Trek’ where the riders will cover some 50 kilometers riding for about eight hours a day.

Caravan

The riders are trained to travel within the camel train or caravan, to move in a single line from one place to another according to the route plan which is prepared in advance by a competent team and the leader of the caravan, and have to comply with the terms and conditions of eligibility to be able to participate in the arduous trek.

A camel train or caravan is a series of camels carrying passengers and/or goods on a regular or semi-regular service between points. Although they rarely travelled faster than the walking speed of a man, camels’ ability to withstand harsh conditions made them ideal for communication and trade in the desert areas of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for centuries, though they could only travel on routes with sufficient sources of food and water.

Exercise

“The training exercise for a selected number of sessions is the starting point for this ‘Camel Trek’ because it tests the individual’s ability to endure harsh conditions and their commitment to complete throughout the full journey,” said Hind Bin Demaithan.

The leader of the ‘Camel Trek’ Khalifa Bin Sabaeen said training focuses on the need to build bond between the rider and camel. “It’s very important in a caravan to go in one line and not ride out of step. Trekkers have to adhere to the discipline of following the leader. They also learn how to take care of their own camel, saddle it and feed it. They should know everything about the camels. These training exercises help to gear the individual to connect to nature before they embark on a new Camel Trek even though some of them may be experienced riders,” he said.

 “We have managed in the past to change courses to overcome a number of challenges, including changing climatic conditions such as wind and rain and to avoid any hazards during the trek. In addition, we have to build the work ethos of the group, which is to divide the tasks between the members of travelling group. There are certain areas for resting and we have to camp before the sun sets so we can set up the tents. We will work as a team with some people taking care of the camels and saddles, some will do the tents and some others will cook the food in a spirit of brotherhood and cooperation,” he said.

Hind Bin Demaithan summed up by describing this expedition which has become popular among all nationalities living in the UAE as a psychological and physical retreat that brings back a dose of positive energy derived from the vast desert sands, the sky, and the glow of night sky stars and the splendor of nature in all its forms.

“The aim of the ‘Camel Trek’ is to create a similar atmosphere to the one in the past when Bedouins used to navigate and travel in the desert. It is not only about sustaining an iconic symbol of the desert environment. The trekkers will also learn about their intercultural experiences and benefit from the team-building exercise,” Hind Bin Demaithan concluded.