Though it may appear, to the uninitiated, to border on the ridiculous, camel racing is taken extremely seriously in the United Arab Emirates. Tracks can be found all over the country and racing takes place every week during the cooler winter months. An indespensable part of traditional Bedouin life, the camel continues to influence their fortunes through breeding and racing. The Al Wathba Racetrack is about 45km east of Abu Dhabi (the closest to the city) and the season culminates in the annual camel race festival in April.