The seventh qualifying round of the Camel Trek Marathon, organized by the Events Management Department at the Hamdan bin Mohammed Centre for Heritage, concluded at the Dubai Camel Racing Club in Al Marmoom area. The event saw the participation of 27 contestants from 18 resident nationalities, as part of ongoing preparations for the marathon's final stage next January. The competitions were held in three main categories. In the 1.5-kilometer camel category, Yekaterina Kodria (Russia) was crowned champion, followed by Gulnora Safarova (Tajikistan) in second place and Kit Yiong Leung (Hong Kong) in third. In the women's open weight category over 1.2 kilometers, Mexican Nadya Curtis secured first place, while German Annie Runde came second and Belarusian Marina Panchanka third. Among men, Faiz Mohammed (India) claimed the top spot, with Frenchman Mohammed Mehdar in second and Pakistani Ahmed Yasin in third. The CEO of the Hamdan bin Mohammed Centre for Heritage, Abdullah bin Dalmaq, honored the top three winners in the presence of the head of Fazza Races Management Department, Rashid Harib Al Khailisi. Bin Dalmaq affirmed that the Camel Trek Marathon is a distinctive initiative that embodies the center's vision of showcasing Emirati heritage in a contemporary format, preserving its authentic essence and presenting it to the world in a universally understood language. He explained that camels represent a steadfast national symbol in Emirati memory, and organizing such events aims to revive this historical and human connection and provide an opportunity for participants of various nationalities to discover the depth of the bond between humans and camels that has shaped life in this land. The marathon witnessed significant public turnout from various Dubai communities and age groups, with attendees flocking to the track to follow the competitions and enjoy the thrilling atmosphere, supporting the contestants in a scene that reflected the values of coexistence and solidarity characteristic of Emirati society.
