She left her life in the US behind to race camels in the UAE. Now, she aims to inspire other women to follow in her footsteps.

With every muscle straining to stay atop the 1,000-pound camel galloping at over 40 kilometers (24 miles) per hour, Taylor Dees is far from her home in Texas, as the animal kicks up sand beneath her.

The distance from her hometown of Moulton to Taif, Saudi Arabia is around 12,700 kilometers (7,890 miles). It’s just two more to secure her victory in the first-ever all-women's race at the Crown Prince Camel Festival.

This was in August 2023, only a year after she first mounted a camel. Turns out, Dees — who had spent much of her childhood riding horses — is a quick study and a skilled rider.

“It all starts with understanding animals and being aware of your own body,” she told Dinogo.

“Once you find the rhythm and understand how the animal moves — and how to move with it — it becomes quite easy.”

Pioneer

Dees relocated to the UAE in 2017 after falling in love with the country during a vacation. Now based in Abu Dhabi, the dietitian juggles her responsibilities as a business owner, mother, and pioneering figure in the world of camel racing.

Camel racing, particularly with dromedaries (single-humped Arabian camels), is a centuries-old tradition in the region that remains both popular and highly lucrative, with prize pools sometimes reaching into the millions of dollars.

Yet, this rich tradition has largely been shaped by men — until now.

Dees is one of many success stories to emerge from the UAE’s Arabian Desert Camel Riding Center (ADCRC), co-founded by German expat Linda Krockenberger.

Krockenberger, who relocated to the UAE in 2015, struggled for years to find a place to ride, often being rejected due to her gender. In a 2022 interview, she recalled being told, 'It will be good if you can dress like a boy.'

In 2021, Krockenberger opened the ADCRC, which became the first licensed camel riding center in the UAE. The center also formed the nation’s first all-women’s camel racing team — an initiative that quickly captured Dees' interest.

“Too often, especially with animals, women are viewed as too delicate or too feminine to thrive in that environment,” Dees shared.

“Yes, we can be delicate and feminine, but we are also strong, brave, and physically fit enough to ride camels,” she added.

‘I don’t race to win’

Dees has raced in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia — including the historic city of AlUla — but will be taking a break from competing with the ADCRC this season.

While events usually have a gap of one to two months, Dees maintains a demanding weekly training routine centered on endurance. Her training starts with trotting and gradually progresses to longer runs to build stamina and ensure both camel and rider are in peak condition for race day.

“The outcome of the race is deeply dependent on the fitness and quality of the camel,” Dees pointed out.

“Your riding technique, posture, and skill matter, but even the most skilled rider won't win if their camel isn’t as fit as the one next to it.”

When Dees returns next season, she’ll compete against other talented riders from the ADCRC, including Krockenberger, Rawan Salah from Jordan, and Coralie Viroulaud from France, who won last season’s all-women C1 Championship.

Dees doesn’t view the other competitors as rivals. She embraces the challenge, ironically because competition isn’t her main goal.

“Winning isn’t my focus,” Dees shared. “I race because it’s fun, first and foremost. Second, I want people to see that as women, we are strong, confident, and capable of doing things that some might think are beyond our reach.”

“With every international race, the stakes grow, and I love that. It shows that more women are willing to break out of their comfort zones and step into this male-dominated sport to prove that not only can we do it, but we can do it exceptionally well, safely, and successfully.”