Due to the great support and patronage given by HH Sh. Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, The Camel Racing Organizing Committee (CROC) of Qatar, headed by HE Sh. Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Faisal Al Thani, has been performing its duties and responsibilities in developing this heritage and traditional sport and to deep- rooting it in the hearts of its lovers generation after generation.  

Since the early eighties of the past century  the CROC continues, year after year, its creativity and innovation to maintain this popular sport by organizing the camel races, both local and grand, and granting valuable  monetary and in-kind awards to the winners in all the  festivals and races held at Al Shahaniyah racetrack. Accordingly, The CROC of Qatar is considered to be one of the most important camel racing organizing committees in the GCC region.

• Through the last four decades the CROC organized many of camel racing competitions for the under the names of honorable personalities. The most important of these races is the annual festival for the sword presented by HH Sh. Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir Father as well as the annual festival for the sword presented by H.H. Sh. Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. The opening festival every season is the founder”s (HE Sh. Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani)  annual festival
• Under the honorable patronage of H.H. Sh. Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, the CROC launched the first robot camel-Jockey in 2005 as a tremendous progress resulted in a significant turn in the world of this heritage sport. 
• The camel racing sport in Qatar revolutionized by developing of Al Shahaniyah racetrack to be in the forefront of all the racing tracks in the GGC region and the world being the biggest racetrack equipped with the latest technology and accessible road networks that allow the sport’s lovers and followers to follow the races while remaining in their cars. Also, as an important step in the history of this authenticity and heritage sport, the CROC managed for providing the racetrack with lighting to allow organizing races in the night.
• AS a part of its efforts to co-op with the latest technology advances, the CROC entered into an agreement with iHorizons Company to implement a unique project of its kind for the first time in the region with the aim of using the information technology for developing, managing, organizing and maintaining this exciting sport in a way to enhance Qatar’s leadership in the camel racing regionally and globally.  In this project the CROC launched an electronic portal as well as a set of smart mobiles applications to achieve the objectives and requirements of the committee and entries by providing them with easy –to –use applications to simplify the registration process of their camels, maintaining the camel descents and managing all related information.  It also helps in improving the policies and procedures related to the camel owners from one side and to reach the maximum accuracy in the registration process from the other side.

 It is worth mentioning g that Mr. Hamad Bin Jarhab Al Marri, who is one of the Qatari youth cadres associated to this sport and the CROC, is the initiative and developer of this new system in addition to being the project manager.

The CROC provided a comprehensive training program on using the new system for all the participants and provides them, also, with continuous technical support to help them to overcome any difficulties they may face.       

 

As good example to the people of Qatar and the world and to express recognition and proudness of the popular heritage camel racing sport, H.H. Sh. Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir Father, is very keen on participating in the Qatar National Sport Day every year by riding camels.

Also, the camel racing sport is getting a generous and unlimited support from H.H. Sh. Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar by honoring and attending the major camel racings, providing all the resources needed to develop this sport and granting monetary and in-kind awards that are the most valuable in gulf region. Such support from H.H. the Emir and H.H. the Emir Father has been the main aspect for the development of this sport resulting from the efforts made by the Camel Racing Organizing Committee headed by H.E. Sh. Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Fisal Al thani which resulted in having the Qatari camel racing competitions to be ranked in a high status within the GCC races.

 Similarly, Al Shahaniyah racetrack, with all the huge resources provided including the latest digital and electronic technologies, made available for the first time in this sport’s history to the camel owners, has become to be in the forefront of the GCC racetracks.

 

• Camels racing competitions started in Qatar in 1973 with the first race at Al Faraa area, 9 KM west of AL Shahaniyah with only 300 participating camels.
• The first ever camel racetrack built in Qatar was Al Rayan racetrack in 1974.
• Labrqah racetrack was opened in 1977 as the longest camel racetrack in Qatar at that time (16-km long). The numbers of participant entries, every round, were between 400 and 500 camels. Races continued to be held at this racetrack until late 1989.
•  H.H The Emir Father ordered the establishment of the present camel racetrack at Al Shahaniyah where races started in 1990 for 6, 8 and 10 km races. The auditorium includes a main terrace, a veterinary clinic, modern stalls for camels, a big mosque and other facilities.
• In 1987 two cars, presented by H.E. Sh. Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Faisal Al Thani, were allocated as the first camel race awards of this kind. The first car won by Mr. Hamad Bin Salem Bin Zahra Al Marri.
• The first award presented by H.H. the Father Emir was in 1989. The first camel to win it was “Al Thahabia” owned by Mr. Rashid Bin Maqareh Al Marri.
• The major annual camel racing competitions honored by H.H. the Emir’s attendance include "The Grand Annual Festival in which participating camels from Qatar and GCC countries compete to win the Emir's Sword as well as, the best in the region, monetary and in-kind awards.
•  Recently the Camel Racing Organizing Committee has scheduled an annual festival under the name of the "Founder" Sh. Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani which is held every year in December, followed by   the Grand Annual Festival to compete for the Sword presented by H.H. Sh. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir Father.