ABU DHABI // Butti Al Kitbi seems to know everything about camels, and as far as he remembers, it has always been that way.
Just like his father and grandfather, Mr Al Kitbi, 29, spends most of his days on a camel farm in Dubai.
To the entire clan, known as bin Loomya, camels are not just a hobby, “they are our life, hobby, inheritance and business”.
The bin Loomya are well-known among racers and breeders, and pride themselves on their reputation for pure-bred camels.
“I inherited these camels from my father, who inherited them from his father,” Mr Al Kitbi said. “The majority of them are pure breeds from well-known families.”
Mr Al Kitbi’s father, Hamad bin Loomya, died in February and left him more than 60 camels, which he mainly breeds and sells.
His most-prized camels are those given to the family by the late Sheikh Zayed, Founder of the UAE. They sport a brand that has the sheikh’s official stamp.
“Sheikh Zayed had given my father several camels to train but when he died a few of the camels were taken from us and the others were given to us to keep.”
Mr Al Kitbi remembers his father telling him that Sheikh Zayed gave the family 70 camels in honour of Butti’s birth.
Caring for camels is not cheap. Prices start at about Dh500 for one young camel.
“We haven’t made much profit in the past three years, but this is a business,” Mr Al Kitbi said.
And a pure-bred camel can fetch millions of dirhams at sale.
“It all depends on the age of the camel, the breed and how many races it has won.”
Camels are bought and sold through brokers who have a reputation that camel owners trust.
While it is difficult to defraud a veteran camel farmer, Mr Al Kitbi admitted to being cheated once.
He paid extra for a purebred camel that was not.
“Like famous family names, Al Maktoum for example, you know every member of the family and how they are related. Camels are the same. We know the family names and how they are related to one another.”
About a dozen of Mr Al Kitbi’s camels are used for racing. The older ones are used to herd other camels.
“Some of my camels are only for the races and we take part in all of them. We might win prizes and make a few thousand out of them, but it is camel sale that brings the most profit and a continuous business.”
Mr Al Kitbi recalls selling a camel for Dh300,000 three years ago.
The Camel Racing Federation says the most expensive racing camel in it register sold for Dh8 million.
Mr Al Kitbi reserves his healthiest camels for breeding and keeps them in the middle of the desert, without guards.
“These camels know their way back. They don’t wander far. They search for food and always come back.”
salnuwais@thenational.ae
More on camel racing and trade in the UAE:
■ Special report: Summer signals camel racing season for Emirati owners
■ Former camel jockey fears being sent away from his Dubai family