Camel Caravan Raises More Than
USD 1 Million Through Gala Charity Auction

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Organizers of the Camel Caravan, the Gulf’s first art-meets-charity initiative, announced today that the recent live auction of 39 camel artworks raised AED 4,700,000, or more than USD 1.28 million, for seven local and two international charities.

The auction, which was conducted by leading global auctioneers Christies, saw a guest list of more than 700 of Dubai’s socialites and business leaders enjoying a seven-course meal hosted by Rotary Club at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Bidders vied for the honor of owning the now-iconic camel artworks including the ‘city gent’ camel entitled ‘Emirates Banker II’ and the mirrored ‘Dubai Dream.’

“The funds raised by this gala camel auction greatly exceeded our expectations and generated possibly the largest single project donation to the specified children’s, arts-related, and humanitarian charities. Overall, we’ve raised almost AED 5 million for charitable causes through the Camel Caravan initiative, while invigorating the arts community through almost half a million Dirhams paid to the artists who painted the camels themselves,” said Patricia Palmer, project director of ArtWorks, the Camel Caravan organizer.

Auctioneers Jussi Pylkkanen, Deputy Chairman of Christies UK, and Hugh Edmeades, Chairman of Christies South Kensington, added the requisite level of professionalism and enthusiasm to the gala evening, sparking light-hearted competition among bidders and encouraging the attending dignitaries and decision-makers to give generously for the charities involved.

ArtWorks, the Camel Caravan organizers, also publicly gifted three camels during the gala auction, honoring HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Municipality, and Dubai Rotary Club for their unwavering support of this inaugural art-meets-charity effort.