A film by Danish Farhan

Long before Dubai’s glittering towers reached the sky, they had their desert. And camels as companions.

Hidden behind the glittering skyline of Dubai, dynasties like the Al Tunaijis strive to uphold their ancestral legacy amidst the waves of modernity. The documentary unveils the mysterious world of camel racing in 100 days, exploring the origins of the intricate bond of animal and caretaker, as Abdulaziz trains for the nation’s most anticipated race, while two generations ponder whether they will be the last of the Bedouins.

S H A R E T H I S

R U N T I M E

52 minutes

Written, directed, filmed and edited by Danish Farhan

C R E D I T S

Abdulaziz Al Tunaiji
The Al Tunaiji family
Bedouins of Dhaid

F E A T U R I N G

M U S I C B Y

Charlie Ryan
Stephen Keech
Angel Salazar
Rebecca Mardal

F I L M E D I N

Dhaid City, Sharjah
Marmoum, Dubai
Dubai Design District, Dubai

F R O M B E D O U I N S O F T H E W I N D

They Were With Our Grandfathers

Chapter Five

Abdulaziz in this scene shares the emotional bond with camels that were one of the key reasons his father and grandfather survived before the 1960’s.

Featured scene

Falcons of Fog

Practiced over generations by a few families who continue to defy the lure of modern pursuits and continue to uphold the beauty of the bird that came to symbolize the nation of UAE.

We Will Always Have our Desert

Extended trailer

The documentary is a window into the hidden world of Bedouin life in the village of Dhaid, where camels are not just animals..

S T I L L S F R O M T H E F I L M

A lone Abdulaziz walks through the desert in Dhaid

B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S

From having this burning idea of a subject, to speaking to a dear friend who actually lived the story I wanted on film, to capturing rare glimpses of Bedouin life — had all taken less than 7 days to start happening.

Last of the Bedouins — why a film on Dubai’s desert culture

Read on Medium.com

Bedouins of the Wind — finding the tone for Dubai’s underground film

The film now miraculously clocks 44 minutes and 21 seconds. Before it releases in select cinemas and on streaming services, I continue to journal my own surprising discoveries..