What is Dubai like?

What does the camel racecourse in Dubai actually look like?

• This fall I'll be going on a business trip to Dubai. This will be my very first time in the Middle East. I'm very excited about this, but I don't know what to expect. During my business trip, if I have the time, I plan to check out the iconic skyscrapers in Downtown Dubai and Business Bay. I'm very much interested in all the architectural developments that have occurred in Dubai over the past few years. After looking at Google Maps, I have a few questions regarding one particular locality just south of Business Bay. There appears to be a vast stretch of flat, empty land located in Al Markada, which is the area between Business Bay and the Meydan Racecourse. According to Wikipedia, this particular land is actually a camel racecourse. Is there anything to see at this camel racecourse? What does this camel racetrack actually look like? Does this racecourse have lots of barricades and fencing like horse racetracks in America?

• Answer:

  That area you mention is called Nad el Sheba , and you are talking about Nad al Sheba Camel racecourse also known as Al Merkad as it is the biggest. There are other Merkads in Abu Dhabi , Oman , Qatar , and Saudi Arabia. Some are used for horse racing as well like in Oman. But mostly this term is referring to Camel race courses. As far as Dubai is concerned , there are 3 Merkads , the one you are looking at (Nad al Sheba), the Jebel Ali race course which is smaller I guess, and Marmum race course which is outside the city in Marmum. The Dubai world cup horse race is not held at al Merkad , it is on another much nicer race course "Meydan" dedicated to horse races. The Merkads are typical race courses like the ones used for horse , with viewer stands and tracks etc, but they don't look as fancy as horse race courses that got grass etc , these are just sandy stretch of land with road that goes around the track so the Camel owners drive along while the race is going on because these Camels don't have a real jockey , they have some kind of remote controlled robot-jockey and these owners control it (the lash rotator thing) from their vehicles.