Camel, camel, who is the foxiest camel in the land? The BBC reported that the UAE is staging its sixth camel beauty contest. No, I am not making this story up. In a tape released by the BBC the camels were judged somehow, I saw no women in public on the tape. The story related that ten thousand camels fluttered their long eyelashes. The contest was held in Abu Dhabi and is one of the richest and biggest events of its kind, with more than $9m (£4.5m; 5.8m euros) and 100 cars in prizes up for grabs. The organisers are said to hope that the contest will remind Emiratis of traditional desert values. Hmmm, what values would that be exactly?
The ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, has sponsored the event because he wants Emiratis to help preserve their national identity through the respect of an animal central to Arab culture. Well, ok then.
Traditionally, the camels were the main measurement of wealth in the region, along with horses and falcons. Enjoy.