Coronavirus: Camel races resume but the majlis stays shut

The first races begin this week but organisers must balance public safety with big crowds

Camel handler, Rahim Daad, from Pakistan, who is preparing the camels for racing at Al Marmoom camel race track, Dubai. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Camel races, such as those at Al Marmoom camel race track, have resumed

The camel race circuit closed earlier this year to limit the spread of Covid-19

A handler at Al Marmoom camel race track in Dubai wearing a face mask

The sport requires handlers to work closely together to saddle camels and guide herds from farms to track

During the race season, the track becomes a gathering place for thousands of handlers and camel owners

A handler at the Al Marmoom camel race track in Dubai

The first races have started back up with safety precautions

Face masks must be worn by camel handlers

Some handlers came from Dubai once they tested negative for Covid-19

Many camel handlers live together on farms

Mohammed Saleem, 38, a camel handler from Pakistan who was raised in the UAE

For spectators, camel racing is the ideal sport for social distancing. But for handlers, the resumption of races this week is a risky prospect.

And as the sun rose over the Marmoom track south of Dubai on Tuesday, handlers gathered at the starting line, jostling their beasts into position.

Emirati owners watched from their vehicles beside the track, as is customary.

This week marks the first race series since the circuit was closed in April to limit the spread of Covid-19.

The track becomes a gathering place for thousands of handlers and camel owners from around the Gulf during the season.

But this year new safety rules have been introduced to safeguard the health of staff and members of the public due to the pandemic.

The Dubai Camel Race Club, for example, requires handlers minimise time at the track and wear masks at all times or risk fines for non-compliance.

But on Tuesday morning, handlers interviewed by The National said life outside the city is good protection.

"At the beginning, we said corona is in this country and that country, it’s even here in Dubai and we felt tension every day," said Mohammed Saleem, 38, a Pakistani citizen born in the UAE who grew up with camels. “People got so worried they stopped eating. But now, all things are from God."

The UAE reported 541 new cases on Monday, the highest number in seven weeks.

The sport requires handlers work closely together to saddle camels and guide herds from farms to track. Handlers live together at farms near the track, often sharing a bedroom and are typically isolated from city life.

Ahmed, a 30-year-old handler, returned to Dubai from Bangladesh in early August as soon as he was able to get a flight back. Since his return, he heard many at camel farms in the area tested positive for the virus and were treated at hospitals.

"We know about cases from camel farms in Dubai and in Al Ain," said Ahmed, who did not want to give his real name. "There was corona here before but now it’s gone."

"Am I worried? Not at all," he said, pointing to the sky. "God provides."

Rahim Daad, a Pakistani handler with 17 years' experience, also returned to the UAE last month. He and his colleagues live in Al Ain but were allowed to attend the Dubai races after testing negative for Covid-19.

"I’m not worried because there are laws," said Mr Daad.

It is not the first time coronavirus has been a topic of racetrack speculation.

An outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome that swept the Gulf in 2014 infected both camels and humans. Although less contagious than Covid-19, it had a higher mortality rate. The discovery that camels could host the Mers coronavirus was met with skepticism. Some camel owners published videos where they kissed camels, rejecting the idea that the ship of the desert could be a carrier of disease.

This time, owners have taken coronavirus seriously.

Trackside majlises where race owners socialise remain shut as Emirati camel owners continue to practice social distancing.

“Before corona, the races were all about the lads and the conversation,” said Juma Humaid, a Dubai camel owner in his late sixties. “Now, no. If I go to a majlis, there’s only two or three of us.”

Mr Humaid gave his handlers masks and bottles of Dettol disinfectant.

“I talk to them regularly but it’s up to people to ... wear a mask,” he said. “There’s not much corona now," he said, despite the recent increase in cases.

Amin Donamiya, 30, a handler of ten years originally from Bangladesh, agreed. He had not heard of the recent spike in cases.

“I don’t know much about corona, I just stay around here. For Eid, I stayed in the house. Corona is in the city, not here, so why would I worry?"

Nasser, a handler from Lahore who stood nearby, disagreed. “Of course we’re worried. We don’t know much about corona, so we should be worried.”

With that, he mounted his camel and strode back to his farm.