Team News
August 18, 2026
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – 18 August 2026: Al Haboob (الهَبُوب), the world’s first professional camel racing team, has announced a landmark partnership with Independent Insurance Brokers (IIB), marking IIB’s appointment as the organisation’s inaugural official lead partner.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in Al Haboob's growth as the Saudi-based team continues its mission to professionalise camel racing and build the sport's first globally recognised racing organisation.
As part of the partnership, IIB branding will feature prominently across Al Haboob’s official team apparel, including the back of the team shirts, sleeves and camel saddle cloths, as the organisation expands its presence across the Gulf and continues to elevate standards within one of the region’s oldest sporting traditions.
Commenting on the partnership, Abdulhady Taher, Chairman of IIB, one of the Kingdom’s most established insurance brokerages, said: “Camel racing is one of the authentic sports that we take great pride in, and I am delighted to support a pioneering team that is helping elevate this sport and strengthen its presence across our beloved Kingdom. This support reflects our belief in the importance of empowering sporting and cultural initiatives that celebrate our national identity.”
Al Haboob’s co-founders welcomed the partnership as a key step in the team’s development. Omar Almaeena, Head of Creative, commented: “This partnership is an important milestone for how we present this sport to the world. From day one, we’ve wanted Al Haboob to look and feel like a major sporting organisation - IIB joining us as our first official partner is a strong signal that others see that ambition, too.”
Safwan Modir, Head of Operations, added: “We’ve focused on building the right foundations from the beginning, both on and off the track. Partnerships like this allow us to continue investing in every aspect of the team as we work towards setting new standards for camel racing. We’re proud to welcome IIB into the Al Haboob family and look forward to building a successful long-term relationship together.”
The collaboration represents another step forward for Al Haboob, which continues to attract growing international attention through its innovative approach to camel racing, including the involvement of World Cup winner Paul Pogba, who serves as global ambassador and shareholder.
"What attracted me to Al Haboob from the start was the vision,” Pogba said. “We’re not just building a racing team, but something bigger for the future of the sport - and for entertainment more broadly.
"When established companies like IIB come on board, it shows other people recognise that vision, too. This is another important step in the journey and I'm excited to see what we can achieve together."
The partnership follows a period of significant growth for Al Haboob, including a first-place finish at His Highness the Amir Sword’s Arabian Camel Racing Festival in April. The team now looks ahead to the Crown Prince Camel Festival in Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest camel racing event, which returns to Taif from September 3 to 13 for its eighth edition, featuring 248 races and more than SAR 50 million in prize money.
