Forget FIFA World Cup, Watch Camels Compete In Beauty Contest In Qatar

Before the competition starts, the camels are also inspected by a medical committee using X-rays to prevent fraud and check that the animals have not had any surgical enhancements.

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Qatar is not only grabbing attention for the FIFA World Cup but a beauty competition of camels from all over the Gulf has also generated a lot of interest. The Qatar Camel Mzayen Club beauty contest is being held in Ash-Shahaniyah, according to news agency Reuters. 

"The idea is similar to the soccer World Cup, we did a camel beauty World Cup. We have participants from the Gulf Cooperation Council, we have big names, said Hamad Jaber al-Athba, President of the Qatar Camel Mzayen club, according to the news agency.

The camels taking part in the event from Gulf countries fall under various categories based on their breed and age. 

Spectators watch a camel beauty contest in Ash-Shahaniyah, Qatar 📸 @reuterspictures pic.twitter.com/0wQ3WCyQBm

— Reuters (@Reuters) November 30, 2022

"Black camels are judged according to the size of the body and the head and the location of the ears. But for the Maghateer-type camel, we look for proportionality and the ears should be dropping down, not stand straight. In addition to the way the mouth is curved. As far as the Asel are concerned, they have special characteristics. The location of the ears is important, there should be a delicacy in the bones, the hooves, so there are characteristics that need more detail," explained Hamad Jaber al-Athba.

Before the competition starts, the camels are also inspected by a medical committee using X-rays to prevent fraud and check that the animals have not had any surgical enhancements.

The decision to conduct inspection was take after 43 camels participating in a beauty pageant in Saudi Arabia last year were found to have been given Botox injections and other cosmetic enhancements by the owners looking to win the competition.