Business

The World’s Most Expensive Camel? Paul Pogba Enters Saudi Camel Racing in a Landmark Investment Move

Paul Pogba Enters Saudi Camel Racing: A Move Linked to the World’s Most Expensive Camels

The World’s Most Expensive Camel? Paul Pogba Enters Saudi Camel Racing in a Landmark Investment Move

KSA Journal – Sports & Investments

World Cup star Paul Pogba partners with Saudi professional camel racing team Hubub, bringing global attention to a sport rooted in Arabian heritage.

World Cup champion Paul Pogba has officially stepped into one of the Gulf’s oldest and most prestigious sporting traditions: professional camel racing. The French football star has announced a strategic investment and ownership stake in the Saudi camel racing team Hubub, marking one of the most unexpected crossovers between global football and Arabian heritage sports.

The move has triggered wide interest in both the sports and business communities, particularly as Pogba links his name and brand to a sport known for producing some of the world’s most expensive and highly valued racing camels.

A New Frontier: Co-Owner and Global Ambassador

Pogba joins Hubub as a part-owner and global ambassador, with a clear mandate to help elevate camel racing onto the international stage. His involvement comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is accelerating the modernization and professionalization of its heritage sports, with a focus on building global audiences and new commercial structures around them.

According to sources close to the deal, Pogba did not enter this arena lightly. He spent months following camel racing, studying the training systems, performance strategies and technology used across major regional competitions. What began as curiosity evolved into a conviction that camel racing offers a unique mix of culture, competition and commercial potential.

In his comments about the partnership, Pogba has emphasized that sport, at its core, is about passion, sacrifice and identity – and that camel racing embodies all three through its deep roots in Arabian culture and its growing global profile.

Hubub: Saudi Arabia’s First Fully Professional Camel Racing Team

Hubub is among the first teams in the region to approach camel racing with a fully professional structure. The team’s vision goes beyond participation in traditional races; it seeks to build an integrated performance and commercial ecosystem around the sport.

The project focuses on:

Scientific breeding and advanced veterinary care for racing camels
Professional training programs and performance planning
Brand building and sponsorship strategies targeting regional and global partners
Long-term plans for structured leagues and international events

With Pogba’s entry as a high-profile investor and ambassador, Hubub is now positioned to become the first camel racing team with truly international recognition. Industry observers expect this partnership to accelerate new sponsorships, broadcast interest and cross-border collaborations.

Where Heritage Meets High-Value Assets

Camel racing is one of the region’s most historic sports, but it is also increasingly known for the extraordinary economic value it generates. Elite racing camels with the right lineage, performance record and training can be worth millions of dollars, placing them among the world’s most expensive racing assets.

In that sense, Pogba’s move into camel racing is more than a lifestyle or cultural statement; it is also a calculated sports investment. It mirrors global trends where top athletes and celebrities are moving into team ownership and niche sports franchises, from US soccer and Major League Pickleball to racing series and golf leagues.

Yet, unlike many of these ventures, this partnership connects directly to a deep-rooted regional identity, centered around the Arabian camel as both a cultural symbol and a high-performance athlete.

Technology, Tradition and the Future of Camel Racing

Modern camel racing bears little resemblance to the sport as it was practiced decades ago. Today, the sport uses robotic jockeys equipped with remote-control systems, GPS tracking and advanced monitoring tools, enhancing both safety and performance analysis.

Alongside technology, the sport also incorporates:

Data-driven training and race strategy
Professional management teams and commercial departments
Structured race calendars and major prize purses
Growing media coverage and digital viewership

Pogba’s involvement signals growing confidence that camel racing can evolve into a globally watched niche sport, particularly as younger audiences seek new and authentic sports experiences with strong cultural stories behind them.

A Cultural Bridge with Global Impact

The partnership also functions as a cultural bridge. On one side stands a World Cup–winning footballer with a global following; on the other, a sport that has carried the heritage of the Arabian Peninsula for generations.

By tying his name to camel racing, Pogba helps open a new narrative: one in which heritage sports are not only preserved, but also repositioned as global platforms for investment, innovation and storytelling.

For Saudi Arabia, the deal aligns with broader ambitions to showcase local culture in world-class formats, attract foreign partnerships and diversify its sports and entertainment portfolio.

For the global sports business, the message is clear: the next “big story” in sports may not come from a new league in a familiar game, but from a centuries-old discipline now entering the era of professionalization and international capital—and, perhaps, from the world’s next “most expensive camel.”

Business

UAE President to Begin Working Visit to India

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will begin a working visit to the Republic of India tomorrow.

During the visit, His Highness will hold talks with His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, to explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation, reflecting the longstanding ties and Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnerships between the two countries.

WAM

Business

UAE records key gains in energy, infrastructure, housing in 2025

The United Arab Emirates reported significant growth across its energy, infrastructure, maritime transport, housing and digital transformation sectors in 2025, underscoring its ability to pair long-term planning with execution on the ground.

The achievements reflect a government approach built on innovation, operational efficiency and improving quality of life, demonstrating the ability to translate national strategies into tangible results that strengthen the country’s competitiveness.

In the housing sector, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure issued 3,567 housing support decisions with a total value of AED2.546 billion. These decisions included housing grants, loans, and housing financing solutions.

These efforts contributed to an unprecedented achievement, as the homeownership rate among UAE citizens rose to 91 percent, one of the highest rates globally. The UAE also won, for the first time, the presidency of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) General Assembly and secured membership on its Executive Council.

As for the energy sector, 2025 marked the launch of the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance, which attracted the participation of more than 40 countries and international organisations—an initiative that underscores the UAE’s advanced role in leading global dialogues on reducing consumption and enhancing efficiency.

The year also witnessed the publication of the State of Energy Report 2025, the election of the UAE as a member of the Water Council of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the launch of a guidance manual for supporting domestic workers in eight languages to raise community awareness of responsible consumption practices.

The implementation of the National Energy and Water Demand Management Programme 2050 further reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to reducing energy demand by 42 percent–45 percent by 2050, through a comprehensive portfolio of projects and initiatives spanning the industrial, agricultural, built environment, and transport sectors.

In the infrastructure and transport sectors, the Ministry worked on developing the National Agenda for Addressing Traffic Congestion, which includes a portfolio of national transport and road projects valued at over AED170 billion through 2030.

The Ministry’s plan targets a 73 percent improvement in the efficiency of federal roads over the next five years, through the implementation of the Emirates Road upgrading and capacity enhancement project, with an investment of AED750 million. The plan also includes increasing the capacity of Al Ittihad Road by 60 percent and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road by 45 percent.

Additionally, the plan includes a feasibility study for the construction of the Fourth Federal Road, extending 120 kilometres with a capacity of up to 360,000 trips per day.

Moreover, the Ministry completed five major transformational projects, which are the humanisation of buildings and their transformation into healthy, well-being–supportive environments, the development of the Green Recycling Yards Project, the advancement of green industrial transformation, the implementation of the Sustainable Farm Irrigation Project, and the recycling of electric and hybrid vehicle batteries.

The UAE also continued to strengthen its global maritime presence by hosting the World Maritime Day Parallel Event and launching the National Maritime Navigation Centre, in addition to being re-elected for the fifth consecutive term to Category “B” membership of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The Ministry also won 41 local, regional, and international awards and obtained 19 ISO certifications, underscoring the maturity of its administrative systems and the quality of its operational processes.

In support of enhanced community engagement, the Ministry held 30 customer council meetings across the Emirates and signed 26 agreements and memoranda of understanding to expand partnerships, knowledge exchange, and amplify the impact of national projects. The year also witnessed the launch of the first fully integrated digital government services centre in Fujairah.

“The year 2025 represents an important milestone in the development journey of the energy, infrastructure, transport, and housing sectors in the UAE,” said Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “We witnessed tangible progress in the implementation of strategic projects that reflect the vision of our wise leadership in building an integrated, more efficient, and sustainable ecosystem capable of supporting economic growth and enhancing quality of life.”

“Our efforts have focused on strengthening the readiness of federal infrastructure, improving the efficiency of the energy system, and developing advanced housing solutions that align with the needs of citizens and their future aspirations,” he said.

Al Mazrouei added that the achievements realised in 2025 confirm the Ministry’s ability to translate national plans into concrete, data-driven results by adopting a work model based on effective governance, efficient resource management, and the expansion of local, regional, and international partnerships.”

“We commence 2026 confidently, building on clear results and solid foundations, while reaffirming our commitment to supporting the objectives of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ Vision, on the path toward the UAE Centennial 2071. The Ministry will continue its work to ensure advanced infrastructure, a sustainable energy sector, and flexible housing solutions that collectively enhance the country’s competitiveness and leadership at both the regional and global levels,” he noted.

WAM

Business

Industry Ministry, WEF Partner on Global Minerals

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the World Economic Forum announced a cooperation agreement signed on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. The signing took place in the presence of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, FMF Chief Executive Ali Al-Mutairi, and World Economic Forum Executive Committee Member Fernando J. Gómez.
Under the agreement, the cooperation will run until September 2027, with FMF serving as the central and principal platform for implementation and management of the related dialogue. The cooperation aims to unify efforts to strengthen partnerships around critical minerals required for energy and other technologies, contributing to the assurance of resilient, sustainable, and responsible mineral supplies aligned with industrial objectives and the energy transition. According to the agreement, the initiative will be overseen by a joint executive committee comprising representatives from the ministry and the World Economic Forum.
The Future Minerals Forum and the World Economic Forum will support efforts to mobilize the public and private sectors to enhance resilience, transparency, and capacity building across mineral value chains. This includes developing and disseminating insights and knowledge on mineral traceability and policy options to increase supply. These insights are intended to complement FMF’s ongoing initiatives to advance standards and best practices in the sector.
The minister affirmed that this partnership represents a pivotal step toward advancing FMF’s objectives in building a more sustainable and equitable global minerals ecosystem, emphasizing that cooperation with the World Economic Forum embodies the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision to become a key hub within global mineral value chains.
Gómez expressed optimism about the cooperation with the ministry, stressing that securing resilient and sustainable mineral supplies requires close collaboration across sectors and borders, and that this partnership will help unlock the potential of mineral resources as drivers of sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
This cooperation further strengthens the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to advance international collaboration on minerals. Since the launch of the Future Minerals Forum in 2022, it has become a global platform that has helped shape the future of minerals and provides a space for cross-sector dialogue that supports action and leadership in mineral traceability and sustainability.
The ministry, the World Economic Forum, and the Future Minerals Forum will leverage this agreement to enhance cooperation between governments and the private sector, support enabling policies, best practices, and innovations across mineral supply chains, address sustainability and efficiency challenges, and strengthen environmental, social, and corporate governance standards.
The agreement reflects the World Economic Forum’s role as a neutral, non-profit international organization that supports cross-sector cooperation and promotes solution-oriented dialogue to ensure resource sustainability and inclusive growth. The project’s outcomes and insights are expected to contribute to the sixth edition of FMF, to be hosted in Riyadh in January 2027.
It is noteworthy that FMF brings together, through the government-led ministerial roundtable, senior government representatives, policymakers, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and stakeholders across the mineral value chain to address sector challenges, enhance investment opportunities, and ensure responsible and resilient mineral supplies.
— SPA