Art & Culture

Paul Pogba’s Next Move? Saudi Camel Racing

BYYassine Hariss

December 11, 2025

French football player Paul Pogba is Al Haboob’s newest investor, a Saudi camel-racing stable that the 32-year-old will now join as ambassador and stakeholder. Financially involved and responsible in the club’s handling, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is betting on the Kingdom’s fastest-growing heritage sport as it experiences rapid growth.

Bringing the ex-Man United midfielder on board to front the club’s image and pull more attention towards a practice that remains generally quite niche, Haboob’s founders explain wanting to capitalize on his star power and leverage his name to draw eyes to a discipline still unfamiliar outside the Gulf.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par @alhaboobracing

“Pogba’s involvement goes deeper than an endorsement,” a club statement issued this week read. “As a shareholder, he has a genuine stake in the team’s future, from its storytelling and media strategy to its community programs. As ambassador, he becomes a bridge between cultures, introducing camel racing to audiences who may be discovering it for the first time. His presence makes the sport not only relevant but aspirational,” it added.

Asked about his newest venture, Pogba said he’s been doing his homework — watching races and researching techniques — in order to properly understand the sport from the inside before committing to it as both an investor and public face. “I’ve watched my fair share of [camel] races on YouTube and spent time doing research in my spare time trying to understand the techniques and strategies,” the Monaco-player told the BBC. He also revealed his desire to own the sport’s most expensive camel on the circuit one day, describing it as a “beautiful full-circle moment” and “something that excites (him).”

Pogba isn’t the only high-profile figure to show interest in camel racing. Grammy-winning producer and music mogul Swizz Beatz has also been involved in the sport for several years, becoming the first American to own a camel racing team — known as Saudi Bronx — and competing in prestigious events like the AlUla Camel Cup. He has invested significant resources into building his team and has raced camels across the Gulf, helping raise the sport’s international profile well before Pogba’s entry.

Paul Pogba’s Next Move? Saudi Camel Racing

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

Paul Pogba’s Next Move? Saudi Camel Racing

Related Stories

More From Art & Culture

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

Newsletter

The only newsletter you won't unsubscribe from

Follow Us