In 1997, Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, hosted a camel race at Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba track. The race was held for a German delegate and friend, Wilhelm Breitling, who himself had a camel farm in Germany.
What was atypical about this particular race was that the participating camel jockeys were all German women. In the famously insular male-dominated sport, this was highly unusual. However, the women had been learning to ride the camels for several weeks and were invited to the UAE by Sheikh Zayed, who was one of the most ardent patrons of camel racing in the region and wanted to promote the sport internationally.
The event was a historical one and made headlines in Germany. It also marked one of the few, if not only, instances where women participated in a camel race as jockeys. The positive outcomes of that 1997 event are still being felt today. Now, more than two decades later, the race is being cited as the inspiration behind the creation of a camel racing school that focuses on training women.
Located near Al Marmoom Heritage Village in Dubai, the Arabian Desert Camel Riding Centre (ADCRC) opened its doors in January and is billed as the UAE's first licensed centre for camel riding, training and race preparation. The centre, owned by Obaid bin Subaih Al Falasi, is managed by Shamsa Al Hajj and Linda Krockenberger, both of whom have years of camel riding experience and lead the training sessions.
"Students with no experience can join us and will eventually graduate with the required skills to also participate in camel races if they wish," Al Hajj tells The National.
While the centre does accept male students and has designated days for mixed classes, its primary focus is on training a women's team to participate in heritage races across the country. These races, held with the intention of keeping the tradition alive, generally take place between October and March and are separate from the competitive races jockeyed by robots.
Students with no experience can join us and will eventually graduate with the required skills to also participate in camel races if they wish
“The team includes more than 12 camel jockeys from several European and Arab countries,” Al Hajj says. “They all participate with courage and passion.”
While some of the women have horse riding experience, most are completely new to the sport. Al Hajj says they usually begin the training by learning how to walk and trot with the camels, first with the support of guiding camels before taking the reins freely.
“We train in the mornings and evenings and cover between eight and 12 kilometres in each session,” Al Hajj says. “The most important aspect of riding camels is to find balance within the moment with minimal support. Our education programme includes the necessary theoretical classes in how to prepare the riding equipment as well as how to care for the animals.”
Part of the motivation to open the centre, Krockenberger says, is that she couldn't find a place to develop her camel riding skills after learning how to ride two years ago during the annual camel trek held by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre.
“Once the journey from Liwa to Dubai was completed, I wanted to go find a place to continue working with these fascinating animals, especially because it was a good balance to my corporate life,” she says. “That’s how I met Shamsa [Al Hajj] and we became good friends.”
Krockenberger began honing her riding skills with Al Hajj, taking a series of long camel rides with her as often as she could. "We did a return trip to Qudra Lakes, which is 25km away, just for fun. It took a whole day but it was a chance to enjoy the camels and the desert."
Eventually, the duo decided to launch the school with the aim of making it more accessible for members of the larger UAE community to interact with camels and to also carve a space for women jockeys at the annual heritage races.
"The heritage races are where Emirati boys would be riding, across different age categories and Shamsa [Al Hajj], being a strong Emirati woman and very passionate about her heritage, said 'OK, but where's our place?'," Krockenberger says. Come October, the women's camel racing team at the ADCRC will be ready to take part in the heritage races.
Though camel racing is deeply ingrained in the UAE's culture – it was included in Unesco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December as a UAE and Omani element – it isn't easy for most residents to participate in.
“Our mission is to make the sport available for everyone who is interested,” she says. “There is a focus on females because they didn’t have a space like this so far.”
Krockenberger said that it was important for the centre to receive an official licence from the Dubai Sports Council. She says she and Al Hajj didn't want to just make the hobby accessible to other people, but to build something that could potentially have a lasting legacy.
“We wanted to bring back the athletic aspect of camel racing,” she says. “To have the centre run by and for the community, where we can all take input from the people and our team and evolve.”
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
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Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
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The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
57%20Seconds
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The years Ramadan fell in May
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures
Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am
Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am
Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am
Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight
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Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Company%20profile
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