December 10 – Paul Pogba has added an unexpected chapter to his post-suspension return by becoming a shareholder and ambassador for Saudi Arabia-based camel racing outfit Al Haboob – billed as the world’s first professional, internationally competing team in the sport.
The 32-year-old Monaco midfielder confirmed the move after spending recent months exploring the heritage of the sport, which remains a major cultural pillar across the Gulf.
“I’ve watched my fair share of races on YouTube and spent time doing research trying to understand the techniques and strategies,” Pogba told the BBC. “What stood out to me is how much dedication it takes from everyone involved. At the end of the day, sport is sport. It demands heart, sacrifice and teamwork.”
Founded by entrepreneurs Omar Almaeena and Safwan Modir, Al Haboob positions itself as a modern, structured racing team operating across the UAE and wider Gulf circuit. Pogba’s arrival, they say, gives the project immediate international visibility.
“Paul’s involvement is transformational,” said Almaeena. No value was given for Pogba’s stake in the team.
“His influence, leadership and passion for cultural storytelling reflect exactly what Al Haboob stands for. This partnership is about more than racing; it is about sharing a heritage that deserves global recognition.”
Pogba said he sees parallels between a sport often dismissed as niche and the elite environments he has inhabited throughout his career. “People might not realise it, but sport always connects in some way,” he said. “Whether it’s football, camel racing, boxing – the foundations are similar. You need determination, you need focus, discipline and grit.”
The midfielder, once the world’s most expensive footballer after his £89 million move to Manchester United in 2016, even joked about completing the circle. “Being the world’s most expensive footballer was an honour… owning the world’s most expensive camel one day would be a beautiful full-circle moment. Maybe one day we make it happen.”
The investment comes shortly after Pogba’s return to competitive football, featuring for new club Monaco in late November, his first appearance since September 2023 following a four-year doping ban that was later reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Pogba has consistently maintained he ‘unknowingly consumed’ the contaminated supplement.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]