Racing Beyond Tradition: How the C1 Championship Is Redefining Camel Racing

Dubai- On the vast golden plains of Al Marmoom Camel Race Track, a new chapter in sports history is being written. On November 8, the C1 Championship the world’s first all-female camel racing series returns for its fifth and most ambitious season yet.

What began in 2021 as a daring experiment by the Arabian Desert Camel Riding Center (ADCRC) has evolved into a global movement, transforming one of the Middle East’s oldest sports into a platform for empowerment, inclusion, and cultural pride.

Camel racing has long been woven into the cultural fabric of the United Arab Emirates a symbol of endurance, heritage, and prestige. Traditionally a male-dominated sport, it is now being reimagined to reflect the UAE’s spirit of innovation and openness. Leading this transformation is the C1 Championship, which continues to redefine what tradition can look like in a modern, inclusive era.

Now entering its fifth season, the series is set to break new ground. For the first time, the race card will feature men’s races alongside women’s competitions, including the Women’s 2,000-metre race expanding the athletic challenge and setting new global standards for the sport.

This season’s grid brings together riders from 12 nationalities, including Emirati, Jordanian, French, Swiss, and American competitors a testament to camel racing’s rapidly growing international appeal. Over the past four years, the C1 Championship has drawn thousands of spectators and generated over 50 million media impressions worldwide, proving that the sport’s blend of heritage, drama, and heart resonates far beyond the desert.

Camel racing’s global profile continues to rise, with the sport confirmed as part of both the Asian Youth Games (Bahrain, October) and the Islamic Solidarity Games (Saudi Arabia, November). The C1 Championship has been central to this progress not only by training riders and increasing visibility but also by championing women’s participation at every level.

A Woman’s Journey-

For Linda Krockenberger, founder of both the C1 Championship and the Arabian Desert Camel Riding Center, the road to this moment has been as demanding as it has been inspiring.

“When I founded the C1 Championship five years ago, I did it with one belief that our community becomes stronger when we open doors, not close them,” says Krockenberger. “This is about creating a platform where women and men can compete with equal respect, guided by independence, transparency, and fairness. It’s a movement that honours tradition while shaping a more inclusive future.”

“Camel racing has deep roots in Emirati culture, and it’s been traditionally reserved for men,” she continues. “When we started the ADCRC and later launched the C1 Championship, our goal wasn’t to challenge that it was to build on it. To show that inclusion strengthens heritage.”

Her vision has since grown into a global force. “We began with a small group of women who simply loved camels,” Krockenberger recalls. “That curiosity grew into confidence and skill. Today, we have riders from across the world the UAE, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the US all training and competing together. For many, camel racing has become a source of empowerment and belonging.”

As the C1 Championship charges into its fifth season, it stands as a living symbol of the UAE’s evolving cultural landscape where heritage meets progress, and tradition runs proudly into the future.