A different kind of diplomacy: UAE seeks to support Israel's Bedouin culture in the Negev through camel racing
Mohamed Al Khaja, the first United Arab Emirates' ambassador to Israel, met with the mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan, and a delegation of Bedouin elders in November to discuss support of Bedouin heritage in the region.
Previously serving as Chief of Staff to the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Al Khaja was sworn in on Feb. 14, 2021, the first UAE ambassador to Israel since the establishment of the Abraham Accords in August 2020. Now he wants to help boost traditional Arab culture in Israel.
UAE Embassy in Israel Promotes Bedouin Heritage Through Camel Racing Initiative
— ME24 - Middle East 24 (@MiddleEast_24) November 27, 2025
As part of its efforts to preserve Arab-Bedouin heritage, the UAE Ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al-Hajjah, met with the Mayor of Arad, alongside senior Bedouin sheikhs and prominent camel owners from… pic.twitter.com/7FF69OuCfS
He has proposed the restoration of officially endorsed camel racing as a way of bringing Bedouin culture to a wider Israeli audience, following the great success of the first state-sponsored race last year.
Thousands gathered for the camel race organized in the Negev desert in November 2024, with spectators coming from both the local Bedouin and Jewish communities. The event symbolized coexistence as it brought different sectors of Israeli society together to enjoy the sport.
“This race was very important for Bedouin society and Jewish society,” Sheikh Mohammed Abudel Al-Walidi told YNet. “It is important that all the countries surrounding us see this and what we were able to do. I have not been as excited as I am today in a long time,” he said at the event last year. Similarly, the head of the Ramat Negev Regional Council, Eran Doron, also affirmed that the official regulation of camel racing was a positive development for the region.
“The race is good news for our region that incorporates a diverse population from across the Israeli spectrum, as it shines a spotlight on the Bedouin tradition and creates an opportunity for cooperation and strengthening the relationships between the communities in the Negev,” he said.
Now the UAE ambassador has been meeting with municipality officials and Bedouin leaders to develop the sport as part of a wider plan to safeguard Bedouin customs and lifestyle within Israeli society.
YNet reports that the initiative plans to build a cultural route incorporating historic sites and a camel‑racing track in order to promote the area’s heritage and boost Bedouin culture in the region.
“This project aims to strengthen Arab heritage, preserve ancient Bedouin traditions and ensure the continuity of this cultural legacy for future generations,” the embassy said in a statement.
“A process of direct bilateral relations with Israel will naturally take many gradual stages. However, efforts to realize the potential of the Accords are moving rapidly,” according to the embassy website, which cited logistics, air links, tourism, cultural exchange, education, medical, scientific research, and telecommunications as sectors in which the two countries can work together.
“The UAE and Israel are working to foster global efforts to strengthen peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond,” the embassy stated.
Jo Elizabeth has a great interest in politics and cultural developments, studying Social Policy for her first degree and gaining a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Haifa University, but she loves to write about the Bible and its primary subject, the God of Israel. As a writer, Jo spends her time between the UK and Jerusalem, Israel.
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