Paul Pogba has made a surprising move into the world of camel racing after becoming a shareholder and ambassador for Al Haboob, a Saudi Arabia-based team competing professionally across the UAE and the Gulf, MySportDab Reports.
The Monaco midfielder, who recently returned to football after an 18-month doping suspension, described his new venture as a blend of curiosity, passion, and respect for a sport deeply rooted in Middle Eastern tradition.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Pogba revealed he had spent considerable time studying camel racing through online videos and research. “What stood out to me is how much dedication it takes from everyone involved,” he said. “At the end of the day, sport is sport. It demands heart, sacrifice and teamwork.”
Camel racing has grown into a modernised global spectacle, and Al Haboob—founded by Omar Almaeena and Safwan Modir, has positioned itself as the first professional team to bring the sport to international attention.
Almaeena hailed Pogba’s arrival as “transformational,” highlighting the midfielder’s leadership and passion for cultural storytelling.
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For Pogba, the move also reflects a wider appreciation for the shared values across sporting disciplines. “Whether it’s football, camel racing, boxing—the foundations are similar. You need determination, focus, discipline and grit. That’s what makes champions,” he added.
The former Juventus and Manchester United star even hinted at ambitions within his new sport, joking that owning “the world’s most expensive camel” would be a meaningful full-circle moment.
Pogba has been working to reclaim his footing in football after being sidelined since September 2023. His return on 22 November, in Monaco’s 4-1 defeat to Rennes, marked his first appearance since the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his four-year doping ban to 18 months.
Pogba has maintained he unknowingly consumed a contaminated supplement.
His latest venture signals both a fresh chapter off the pitch and a growing connection to Gulf sporting culture.
