Swizz Beatz, the Grammy-award winning record producer, has praised the inaugural AlUla Camel Cup as “special”, and expressed his delight at being a part of AlUla’s growth.
The first American to own a camel racing team in Saudi Arabia, Swizz Beatz attended the pinnacle of camel racing to watch competitors from his Saudi Bronx team in action at the revamped AlUla Camel Racing Venue. A Saudi Bronx pop up store was also erected within the Venue to offer branded merchandise to AlUla Camel Cup spectators.
Organised by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) as part of the AlUla Moments calendar in collaboration with the Saudi Camel Racing Federation (SCRF), the AlUla Camel Cup concluded on Friday, March 17.
Swizz Beatz said: “It’s always amazing to be in AlUla. This place is very special to me and my family’s hearts. To be able to attend the first AlUla Camel Cup and with Saudi Bronx being the first American team in the history of the federation is an honour.”
The Bronx-raised star saw his camel Mardiah place fifth in the 4.30pm race at the AlUla Camel Cup on Thursday and remarked: “I’m cool with top five – Alhamdulillah. It’s just a pleasure and a blessing.”
Speaking outside the Saudi Bronx pop up store, Swizz Beatz, who teamed up with Jay-Z to win a 2011 Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group with ‘On to the Next One’, added: “It’s fun to have Saudi Bronx at the AlUla Camel Cup. Saudi Bronx is a global lifestyle, so there should be shirts available, there should be Saudi coffee available from Saudi Bronx, and records and songs and Spotify playlists. We want to create ways for people to get into the journey.
“Having Saudi Bronx here in AlUla is so beautiful – this was just sand where we were standing a month ago.”
Swizz Beatz, married to fellow Grammy-award winning artist Alicia Keys, who performed at the mirrored Maraya Concert Hall during the Alula Arts Festival in February, commented that AlUla “teaches my family and other people to be open minded”.
The producer, performer, artist and businessman said: “AlUla is educational and shows different cultures. The energy in AlUla is very special, it’s very sacred. It’s so chilled. And I like to see something grow. AlUla is doing many things. We even have our skating rink here, AlUla on Wheels, from my company Good Intentions.”
He added: “I was in AlUla when Maraya had no glass – it feels like my baby, and seeing a child grow. That’s how I feel about AlUla and Saudi as a whole.”
