C1 Championship Returns to Dubai with Expanded Race Card

Dubai’s Al Marmoom Camel Race Track will host the C1 Championship — the world’s first all-female camel racing series — as it returns for a fifth season on November 8.

Launched in 2021 by the Arabian Desert Camel Riding Center (ADCRC), the C1 Championship has progressed from an experimental idea into an internationally recognised event, promoting inclusion, athleticism and cultural pride.

Camel racing remains a vital element of Emirati tradition, representing endurance and prestige. Once largely dominated by men, the sport is now adapting to modern values, with the C1 Championship leading efforts to blend heritage with broader participation.

Expanded Format and International Participation

This edition is the most extensive to date: for the first time men’s contests will appear alongside the women’s programme. Organisers have also added a new Women’s 2,000-metre race to increase the competitive standard and align the series with global benchmarks.

Competitors this season represent 12 nationalities, including the UAE, Jordan, France, Switzerland and the United States. Over four years the championship has drawn thousands of spectators and recorded more than 50 million media impressions worldwide, underlining the sport’s widening appeal.

The international profile of camel racing is growing, with appearances at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain (October) and the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia (November). The C1 Championship supports this trajectory through rider development, visibility campaigns and sustained promotion of women’s involvement.

A Woman’s Vision: Linda Krockenberger

Linda Krockenberger, founder of the C1 Championship and the ADCRC, has driven the series’ transformation. She says, “When I started the C1 Championship five years ago, my aim was simple: open opportunities rather than close them. This event gives women and men a platform to compete on equal terms, with fairness and transparency.”

Krockenberger stresses that the initiative seeks to strengthen, not replace, tradition. “Camel racing is deeply rooted in Emirati culture. Our approach has been to broaden participation while respecting that heritage,” she adds.

From a handful of women riders the championship has expanded into a diverse international community. “Riders now come from across the globe to train and compete together,” Krockenberger notes. “For many, the sport has become a source of empowerment and belonging.”

Her work has been supported by mentor and business partner Obaid bin Subaih Al Falasi and by UAE leadership, whose backing for inclusive sport has been important. “What once felt unconventional is now accepted as part of the scene,” she says.

Building a Lasting Legacy

Looking forward, Krockenberger is prioritising governance, athlete pathways and international cooperation. The Arabian Desert Sprint will broaden the race schedule and introduce youth categories, including boys’ races, to connect generations through the sport.

The ADCRC plans to run daily intensive training for aspiring jockeys, especially international riders targeting top competition. Discussions with the World Camelid Sports Federation are underway to include camel racing in more global events.

As the C1 Championship moves into its next phase, it continues to reshape camel racing by combining tradition, innovation and empowerment to encourage wider participation.