Dyeing winning camels with saffron is one of the most time-honored ceremonial rituals associated with camel festivals in the Arabian Peninsula. During the Dubai Crown Prince Camel Festival, currently being held at the Marmoom racetrack, this custom comes to the forefront as a living part of intangible heritage. Saffron is sprayed or applied to the necks, faces, and bodies of the camels in a celebratory scene that blends folk rituals with inherited traditions. Family members, including children, often participate in this ritual as an expression of pride and belonging, and as a means of passing down heritage from one generation to the next. Dyeing the camels also carries a symbolic message that transcends competition, as the identity of the winning camels is announced to the public, turning the moment of victory into a communal celebration that intertwines songs, photography, and public joy.
