Camel Rides in Qatar: Where to Ride, What It's Like and What It Costs

Included with every safari, plus two other places to meet Qatar's most famous animal.

Camels are woven into Qatari life — racing, beauty contests, milk, poetry — and meeting one is on most visitors' lists. There are three easy ways to do it, and one of them is already included in your safari.

1. On the desert safari (included)

At the Inland Sea camp, handlers lead a short ride along the dunes — the camel kneels, you climb on, it stands (hold on for the lurch) and walks a loop of a few minutes. It is calm, photogenic and suitable for children with a parent. Longer 30-minute sunset rides can be arranged for private groups.

2. Souq Waqif

Behind the souq's police station is a small camel pen where the mounted police keep their animals. You can see them up close for free any day; occasional short rides are offered on weekend evenings.

3. Al Shahaniya camel racing

Forty minutes west of Doha, camels race with remote-controlled robot jockeys while owners follow in 4x4s along the track. It is free, extraordinary and one of the most authentic things you can see in Qatar. Season runs October to April, mornings on Fridays and Saturdays; outside race days you can still watch training.

Tips

• Lean back when the camel stands and sits — it goes back legs first.
• Wear trousers; camel hair is coarse.
• Do not feed camels anything the handler has not given you.
• Photos are welcome; ask before photographing handlers.

Camels in Qatari culture

The camel is the animal of the Bedouin economy — transport, milk, wool, meat and, above all, status. Racing camels change hands for hundreds of thousands of riyals; the annual Mzayen (camel beauty contest) draws entries from across the Gulf; and camel milk is sold in every supermarket (try the chocolate version). Robot jockeys replaced child riders in 2005; the small robots are radio-controlled from 4x4s racing alongside the track.

Longer rides and treks

For anything beyond the camp loop — a 30-minute sunset ride along the Inland Sea, or a two-hour dune trek — book a private safari and ask. Treks are best in winter mornings and suit children from about 8. Prices depend on the number of camels and handlers; we quote per group.

Etiquette and welfare

• We work only with camps whose animals are fed, watered and rested between rides; ask to see the camels before you ride — a healthy camel is alert with a full hump.
• Two adults per camel is the maximum; children ride with one adult.
• No sudden movements or loud noises near the animals' heads.
• Tipping handlers QAR 10–20 is appreciated.

Camel milk, camel meat and the souq

You can taste both in Doha: camel milk is sold chilled and flavoured in supermarkets and at the Souq Waqif cafés (lighter and saltier than cow's milk), and camel meat appears in mandi and machboos at Yemeni and Qatari restaurants around the souq — try it at Bandar Aden. Both are traditional Bedouin staples rather than novelties.

Getting to Al Shahaniya

The racetrack is 40 km west of Doha on the Dukhan road; there is no public transport, so take a taxi (QAR 90–120 each way, arrange the return) or add it to a private morning tour. Races start around 7 am and finish by 10; bring a hat, and stand at the finish straight where the 4x4s of the owners come past in a cloud of dust.