History has been made in the UAE after two Emirati women competed alongside men for the first time in a camel race.
Over the weekend, Hakima Gaith and Khawla Al Balooshi took part in their respective categories in the preliminary races ahead of the annual UAE National Day Camel Marathon.
Taking place at the four-kilometre Al Marmoom Race Track in Dubai, Gaith was competing in the over-30s category while Al Balooshi was competing in the 18 to 29 age group.
Per Gulf Today, Discussing the milestone moment, Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) said, “We are very proud of our community traditions, and the participation of two Emirati women for the first time in an official camel race confirms our endeavour to make heritage sports available to all members of society.”
Al Balooshi also shared her pride in the history-making experience.
“I thank HHC for motivating and providing us this opportunity to participate in a race that I consider a very wonderful experience, and I am very happy to be one of the first Emirati women who participated in an official camel riding race,” she said.
The 28-year-old works as a senior analyst in Dubai’s Department of Economic Development, but is also a keen camel rider and following her preliminary round debut ahead of the annual UAE National Day Camel Marathon, she will also go onto compete in the eighth annual Camel Trek on December 9 where competitors will navigate through 500km of desert in the UAE, then finishing at the Expo 2020 site.
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