• Camels are gathered to take part in a contest during the first Qatar Camel Festival, at Lebsayyer area of al-Shahaniyyah, around 25 Km northwest of the Qatari capital, on March 8, 2022. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)
    Camels are gathered to take part in a contest during the first Qatar Camel Festival, at Lebsayyer area of al-Shahaniyyah, around 25 Km northwest of the Qatari capital, on March 8, 2022. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)
  • Qatar has allowed camels from across the region to enter, drawing breeders from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE with millions of dollars in prizes at stake.
    Qatar has allowed camels from across the region to enter, drawing breeders from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE with millions of dollars in prizes at stake.
  • Organisers were on alert to combat tampering, which includes the use of Botox.
    Organisers were on alert to combat tampering, which includes the use of Botox.
  • The camels are put through X-rays and other monitoring.
    The camels are put through X-rays and other monitoring.
  • To pick the winners, the judges look at 'the size and beauty' of the head, the length of the neck and the position of the camel's hump.
    To pick the winners, the judges look at 'the size and beauty' of the head, the length of the neck and the position of the camel's hump.
  • For black camels the size of its head can be a deal-breaker, but for white camels, consistency of colour counts.
    For black camels the size of its head can be a deal-breaker, but for white camels, consistency of colour counts.
  • Authorities in Qatar and its neighbours are seeking to boost the profile of traditional practices as they compete with mega events such as football's World Cup and Formula One grands prix.
    Authorities in Qatar and its neighbours are seeking to boost the profile of traditional practices as they compete with mega events such as football's World Cup and Formula One grands prix.
  • The festival has attracted Qatar's growing urban population as well as its desert-dwelling Bedouin.
    The festival has attracted Qatar's growing urban population as well as its desert-dwelling Bedouin.

MENA

Camel's beauty declared untouched by Botox

Winner of Qatar's first international festival is free from scandal

James Langton
James Langton

March 11, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Those pouting lips might have seemed too good to be true, as was the shapely hump and long slender neck.

As it turns out, the winner of Qatar’s first camel beauty contest was entirely the work of nature and nothing to do with Botox or cosmetic surgery.

Mangiah Ghufran was declared the most beautiful beast at the festival, in Al Shahaniya, this week, after first satisfying the judges that his appearance had not been artificially enhanced.

Qatar Camel Festival judges were exercising extra caution after fears of what they called widespread “tampering” in the world of camel beauty competitions.

Last December, at a contest in Saudi Arabia, 43 camels were disqualified after it was discovered that unauthorised enhancers had been applied to the animals. These included Botox and other drugs designed to make their lips droopier and humps more shapely.

While the drugs can have the temporary effect of improving the camels’ appearance, they have serious long-term issues for their health.

Mangiah Ghufran was subject to intense scrutiny, including X-rays, before being anointed as the winner of the contest, which has a prize of one million riyals ($274,600).

Chief festival organiser, Hamad Jaber Al Athba, said: “Corruption was fought seriously at the Qatar Camel Festival.

“We had professional veterinary staff and advanced equipment and we worked to combat tampering and limit the spread of cosmetic materials.”

Mangiah Ghufran’s owner, Fahed Faj Algufrani, explained it had taken “years” to prepare his prize-winning camel.

Judges looked the appearance of the head, the length of the neck and the position of the camel’s hump in selecting the winner.

This was Qatar’s first international camel festival, attracting breeder from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with prize money worth a total of 47m riyal.

Camel festivals have long been part of the UAE’s cultural scene, with the biggest being the Al Dhafra Festival in Abu Dhabi, which this year offered prizes totalling Dh110 ($29.9m).

Arabian horse beauty contest: in pictures

  • An equine trainer and his horse win first prize in a beauty contest for Arabian purebred horses in the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. All photos: AFP
    An equine trainer and his horse win first prize in a beauty contest for Arabian purebred horses in the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. All photos: AFP
  • This aerial shot shows a horse being paraded in front of the judges.
    This aerial shot shows a horse being paraded in front of the judges.
  • Horses are judged on a number of factors.
    Horses are judged on a number of factors.
  • Palestinian girls hold up score cards.
    Palestinian girls hold up score cards.
  • The horses will have undergone specific training ahead of the contest.
    The horses will have undergone specific training ahead of the contest.
  • A trainer steadies their horse before heading into the judging arena.
    A trainer steadies their horse before heading into the judging arena.
  • Trainers are keen to show off their animal's agility.
    Trainers are keen to show off their animal's agility.
  • Horses are also judged on their poise and stature.
    Horses are also judged on their poise and stature.
Updated: March 11, 2022, 1:42 PM