Al Tallah Camel Race Course is a traditional camel racing track in the Al Tallah area of Ajman, about 10 kilometres from Ajman city centre and an easy drive from Dubai and Sharjah. During the racing season, from October to March, it usually hosts early morning and afternoon races on Fridays and Saturdays, entry is free for spectators, and you can watch camels ridden by robotic jockeys sprint across the sand while their owners follow in 4×4 cars. The highlight of the year is Ajman’s annual camel festival in winter, with major races and a camel beauty pageant.
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This guide covers race times and the season, how to get there, what to expect on a race morning, nearby hotels and resorts, other places to visit in Ajman, and how White Sky Travel and Tourism can plan the whole trip for you with easy installments.
Índice
Al Tallah Camel Race Course at a glance
| Detail | Información |
|---|---|
| Ubicacion | Al Tallah 1, off Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Street, Ajman, UAE |
| Racing season | Octubre a marzo |
| Días de carrera | Usually Fridays and Saturdays, early morning and afternoon |
| Entrada | Gratuito para los espectadores |
| Annual highlight | Camel festival in winter with races and a camel beauty pageant |
| Distancia | About 10 km from Ajman city centre, roughly 35 to 50 minutes from Dubai by car |
| Ideal para | Culture lovers, photographers and families |
What is Al Tallah Camel Race Course?
Camel racing is an ancient Bedouin sport and still one of the most loved traditions in the UAE. Al Tallah Camel Race Course is Ajman’s home of the sport, a wide desert track where local owners and trainers race and train their camels through the cooler months.
The races are short, fast sprints. Each camel carries a small remote controlled robotic jockey, and the owners drive alongside the track in 4×4 cars, steering their camels, cheering and sounding their horns. It is a real local pastime rather than a show built for tourists, so the crowd is mostly Emirati families, trainers and owners, which is what makes it feel so authentic.
A common misconception is that it is a ticketed attraction with fixed showtimes. It is neither. It is a working race track with a seasonal calendar and no official public timetable, so race times can shift from week to week.
Al Tallah camel race times and season
The racing season at Al Tallah runs from October to March, when the weather is cool enough for the camels. Between April and September there is usually no racing.
- Race days: usually Fridays and Saturdays during the season.
- Tiempos de carrera: early morning meets that often start around sunrise, plus afternoon meets on some days.
- Training runs: trainers often exercise their camels on other mornings, so you may catch training on weekdays too.
- Camel festival: Ajman’s annual camel festival in winter brings participants from across the Gulf, with racing, a camel beauty pageant and heritage activities.
Race times and festival dates may change from season to season, so message our team on WhatsApp at +971 4 220 2133 before you go and we will share the latest schedule we have.
How to visit on a race morning
There is no formal booking process for a regular race morning. You arrive, park and watch. Here is how the visit works from start to finish:
- Pick a race day in season, ideally a Friday or Saturday between October and March.
- Plan an early start. Morning races usually begin around sunrise and are often finished before midday.
- Drive to Al Tallah in Ajman. The track is about 10 kilometres from Ajman city centre and is reached via Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Street.
- Park near the trackside. Many spectators watch from their cars along the track, which is normal and accepted here.
- Bring water, sun protection and a camera with a zoom lens. The track is long and the camels move fast.
- Stay behind the marked areas. The service road belongs to the owners’ cars, and they will not stop for a wandering visitor.
The judgement call is timing. Arrive at sunrise and you’ll see the qualifying heats, the training runs, and the atmosphere before the crowd builds. Arrive late morning and you’ll find an empty track, because the day is already over.
How to get to Al Tallah Camel Race Course
The race course is in Al Tallah 1, Ajman, off Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Street and close to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. Visit Ajman, the official tourism site of the emirate, places it about 10 kilometres from the city centre, with races held from October to March.
- From Ajman city centre: Aproximadamente de 15 a 20 minutos en coche.
- Desde Sharjah: about 25 to 35 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Desde Dubai: about 35 to 50 minutes via Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311).
- Transporte público: there is no direct bus to the track, so a car, taxi or private transfer is the easiest way.
Race day at a glance
Every visit is a little different depending on the day and the season, but this table covers the situations you will actually face.
| Situación | Qué hacer | Cuánto tiempo | A qué mirar |
|---|---|---|---|
| First visit in season | Arrive by sunrise on a Friday or Saturday | 2-3 hrs | Races start early and finish before midday |
| Morning race day | Park along the rail and watch from your car | 1-2 hrs | Heats run in waves, one after another |
| Sesión de entrenamiento | Weekday mornings in season | 1 hora | Owners’ cars pacing the camels |
| Con niños | Stands or car, with water and shade | 1-2 hrs | Strong sun after about 10am |
| Photography visit | Zoom lens and sunrise light | 2 horas | Backlit dust at sunrise for great shots |
| Camel festival | Arrive early, expect bigger crowds | La mitad del día | Beauty pageant and heritage activities |
| Abril a septiembre | Skip the track | No es aplicable | No racing in the summer heat |
If you want the full racing atmosphere, go on a race weekend or during the camel festival. If you just want to see camels run and take photos, a quiet weekday training morning is easier and less crowded.
Getting the most out of the visit
The people who enjoy this most treat it as a morning out, not a checklist stop. They arrive before sunrise, when the light is low and the camels are warming up on the sand, and they position themselves along the stretch where the finish happens.
The order matters. Watch the warmup runs first, because they teach you what a racing camel’s stride looks like. Then the heats make sense, and you can follow which camel is pulling ahead. Check the pace partway through your visit too; if the heats have stopped and the cars are circling, the racing part of the morning is done.
On busy race days and during the festival you may find traditional tents serving Arabic coffee and dates, and small stalls with local snacks. On quieter days there may be nothing on sale, so bring your own water and snacks.
Leave the drones at home. Flying one over a race track without a permit is a legal problem in the UAE, and it disturbs the animals. A zoom lens from the rail gets you a better picture anyway.
The mistake visitors make is arriving at noon expecting a show. The track is empty by then, the heat is heavy, and the whole morning has been missed. What it costs is the entire trip, because there’s no second session the same day.
Rules and practical limits
Camel racing in the UAE is governed by national racing rules, and the sport uses robotic jockeys rather than child riders, a change enforced by Ley de los EAU years ago. Spectators don’t need a licence or a ticket for a normal race morning, but you’re a guest at a working facility, so follow the track staff’s directions and stay clear of the racing surface.
Drones need official approval from the UAE authorities before you fly one anywhere in the country, and a race track isn’t the place to test that. If you’re planning a commercial photo shoot or an organised group visit, arrange it through a licensed tour operator rather than turning up with equipment.
Hotels and resorts near Al Tallah Camel Race Course
If you want to reach the track before sunrise without a long drive, staying a night in Ajman makes the early start much easier. Popular choices on the Ajman beachfront include:
- Ajman Saray, a Luxury Collection Resort: a five star beachfront resort with a private beach, pools and a spa.
- Fairmont Ajman: a five star beach hotel with sea view rooms and a choice of restaurants.
- BAHI Ajman Palace Hotel: a five star palace style hotel on the beach, close to the corniche.
- Ajman Hotel managed by Blazon Hotels: a four star beachfront hotel that suits families.
- Ramada by Wyndham Beach Hotel Ajman: a good value beach hotel close to the city centre.
White Sky can book any of these for you, and with our Reserva de hoteles en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos a plazos you can spread the cost with Tabby, Tamara or a UAE credit card over up to 12 months.
Places to visit near Al Tallah Camel Race Course
The morning races finish before midday, so you have the rest of the day free. These are easy additions to your trip, all a short drive away. For more ideas, see our guide to Cosas que hacer en Ajman.
- Museo Ajman: housed in a historic fort in the city centre, with displays on pearling, Bedouin life and local history.
- Cornisa de Ajman: a long beachfront promenade with cafés, perfect for a relaxed afternoon by the sea.
- Reserva natural de Al Zorah: mangroves and lagoons where you can kayak and spot flamingos in the cooler months. Read our Reserva Natural Al Zorah guide for prices and tips.
- Souq Saleh: one of the oldest markets in Ajman, good for spices, perfumes and souvenirs.
- Centro de la ciudad de Ajmán: a modern mall with shops, a cinema and restaurants if you want to cool down indoors.
- Masfout: Ajman’s mountain area near Hatta, known for hiking trails and farms, for a longer day out.
Booking it as part of a trip
A race morning works best as one piece of a wider UAE itinerary. If you would rather not drive or plan the timing yourself, White Sky Travel and Tourism can build the visit into an Ajman day trip with pickup from Dubai, the race track, lunch and stops at nearby attractions, or include it in one of our Viajes a los Emiratos Árabes Unidos.
You can book the trip in installments using Tabby, Tamara or a UAE credit card with up to 12 months of payments. Message the team on WhatsApp at +971 4 220 2133 to check dates and prices. Prices may change and T&C apply; the final price is confirmed during booking.
When this is not the right choice
This visit is not for everyone, and there are three situations where you should pick something else.
If you only have one day in the UAE and you want Dubai’s main sights, the early race times will eat your whole morning for a niche experience. Do Dubai first and add camel racing on a second trip.
If you are travelling with very young children who need a mid morning nap, the sunrise start will be hard on everyone, and a safari privado por el desierto with a short camel ride fits family schedules better. If you are based in Dubai and want a track closer to home, read about camel races in Dubai. And if you are visiting between April and September, there is usually no racing at all, so choose an indoor attraction instead.
Artículos Relacionados
Planning more time in Ajman and the northern emirates? These guides will help:
- Qué hacer en Ajman: Guía completa para una excursión de un día desde Dubái
- Museo de Ajman: Entradas, horarios, historia y qué ver
- Zoco Saleh de Ajman: Ubicación, horarios, tiendas y consejos para visitantes.
- Zoco del Oro de Ajman: Ubicación, horarios, tiendas y consejos para comprar oro.
- Centro de la ciudad de Ajman: tiendas, horarios, ubicación y consejos para visitantes.
- Qué hacer en Umm Al Quwain: Guía completa para una excursión de un día desde Dubái
- Carreras de camellos en Dubái
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is Al Tallah Camel Race Course located?
Al Tallah Camel Race Course is in Al Tallah 1, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, off Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Street and close to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It is about 10 kilometres from Ajman city centre.
Is Al Tallah Camel Race Course free to enter?
Yes. Entry is free for spectators on regular race days, and you can watch from the trackside or from your car. Festival days may have special arrangements, and details may change.
What are the Al Tallah camel race times?
Races usually take place on Fridays and Saturdays during the season, with early morning meets that start around sunrise and afternoon meets on some days. There is no official public timetable, so times can change from week to week.
When is the camel racing season in Ajman?
The season runs from October to March, when the weather is cool. Ajman also hosts an annual camel festival in winter with major races, a camel beauty pageant and heritage activities.
Can you ride a camel at Al Tallah Camel Race Course?
No. The track is for professional racing and training, not tourist rides. If you want to ride a camel, book a desert safari with a camel ride through White Sky Travel y el turismo.
Is Al Tallah Camel Race Course good for families?
Yes. It is a calm, local morning out and Emirati families attend regularly. Keep children behind the marked areas, bring water and shade, and plan to leave before the midday heat.
What should I wear and bring to the camel races?
Wear light, modest clothing, closed shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Bring water, snacks and a camera with a zoom lens, as food stalls are not always open on quiet days.
How do I get to Al Tallah Camel Race Course from Dubai?
Drive about 35 to 50 minutes via Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311), depending on traffic. There is no direct public bus to the track, so a car, taxi or an Ajman day trip with pickup from Dubai is the easiest option.
Which hotels are near Al Tallah Camel Race Course?
Popular hotels in Ajman include Ajman Saray, a Luxury Collection Resort, Fairmont Ajman, BAHI Ajman Palace Hotel, Ajman Hotel managed by Blazon Hotels and Ramada by Wyndham Beach Hotel Ajman. Most are on the Ajman beachfront, a short drive from the track.
Can I fly a drone at the race course?
No, not without official approval from the UAE authorities. Flying a drone over the track without a permit is not allowed and it can disturb the camels.
How can I book a trip to Al Tallah Camel Race Course?
Mensaje White Sky Travel y Turismo en WhatsApp en +971 4 220 2133. We can plan an Ajman day trip with transport, hotel and nearby attractions, and you can pay in installments with Tabby, Tamara or a UAE credit card over up to 12 months.
Conclusión
Al Tallah Camel Race Course is one of the most authentic experiences in Ajman: a free, local race morning where you see an ancient Bedouin sport with a modern twist. Go between October and March, arrive by sunrise on a Friday or Saturday, and pair the races with a beach hotel, Ajman Museum or a walk along the corniche for a full day out.
If you want it all planned for you, with transport, hotel and easy installments through Tabby, Tamara or your UAE credit card, contact White Sky Travel y Turismo en WhatsApp en +971 4 220 2133 and our team will set it up for you.
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